Adelaide 36ers Beat Sydney Kings 84-78 in NBL Road Statement

Final score: Adelaide 36ers 84, Sydney Kings 78
Competition: National Basketball League
Date: October 11, 2026
Venue: Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney

The Adelaide 36ers delivered one of their most composed road performances of the early NBL season, defeating the Sydney Kings 84-78 at Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday afternoon. In a game that stayed tight deep into the fourth quarter, Adelaide’s half-court defense and late-game execution proved decisive, handing Sydney a frustrating home loss in the National Basketball League.

Kendric Davis led the 36ers with 22 points and seven assists, while Dejan Vasiljevic added 18 points and Isaac Humphries controlled the paint with 14 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks. Sydney were powered by Jaylen Adams’ 21 points and Xavier Cooks’ 16-point, nine-rebound effort, but the Kings could not find enough offense in the closing minutes.

Match Overview

Sydney started with better energy in front of their home crowd, using an 8-2 opening run to force Adelaide into an early timeout. The Kings’ guards attacked the rim early, and Cooks was active on both ends. However, Adelaide steadied through Davis, who repeatedly broke down Sydney’s pick-and-roll coverage and created open looks for Vasiljevic on the wing.

By the end of the first quarter, Sydney held a narrow 20-18 lead. The second quarter belonged to Adelaide, who found rhythm from beyond the arc and tightened up defensively. A 12-4 run late in the half gave the 36ers a 41-39 advantage at the main break, with Davis already near double figures in scoring and assists.

The third quarter was a back-and-forth affair. Sydney briefly reclaimed momentum behind Adams and Alex Toohey, but Adelaide answered every run with timely shot-making. Humphries’ presence at the rim made life difficult for Sydney’s drivers, and the 36ers took a 61-57 lead into the final period.

• First quarter: Sydney 20, Adelaide 18
• Second quarter: Sydney 19, Adelaide 23
• Halftime: Sydney 39, Adelaide 41
• Third quarter: Sydney 18, Adelaide 20
• Fourth quarter: Sydney 21, Adelaide 23
• Final: Sydney Kings 78, Adelaide 36ers 84

Key Moments

The decisive stretch came in the final three minutes. Sydney had clawed their way back into the game, cutting Adelaide’s lead to 78-76 on an Adams three-pointer with just over two minutes remaining. Moments later, Adams drove baseline for a layup that tied the game at 78-78, bringing the home crowd to its feet.

Adelaide did not panic. Davis responded with a composed floater in the lane, Vasiljevic buried a corner three off a well-timed kick-out pass, and Humphries iced the game with a free throw after drawing contact on a roll to the rim. That 6-0 closing burst sealed the 84-78 win and left Sydney searching for answers in late-game execution.

Another important moment came late in the third quarter, when Adelaide held Sydney scoreless for nearly three minutes. That drought allowed the 36ers to turn a one-point deficit into a four-point lead heading into the fourth, a cushion that proved just enough on the road.

Tactical Story

Adelaide’s game plan centered on controlling the tempo and forcing Sydney into contested jump shots. The 36ers switched aggressively on the perimeter, limited clean catch-and-shoot looks, and used Humphries as a deterrent at the rim. Sydney finished the game shooting just 8-of-30 from three-point range, while Adelaide connected on 10-of-26 attempts from deep.

The rebounding battle also favored the visitors. Adelaide out-rebounded Sydney 43-37, including a 14-8 edge in second-chance points. The 36ers scored 42 points in the paint compared to Sydney’s 34, a reflection of their commitment to attacking the basket through Davis and Humphries.

Sydney’s defense forced enough stops to stay close, but their offense became too reliant on Adams’ isolation scoring down the stretch. The Kings turned the ball over 14 times, leading to 17 Adelaide points, and those extra possessions proved costly in a six-point game.

Standout Players

• Kendric Davis (Adelaide 36ers): 22 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals. Davis was the game’s best playmaker, controlling pace and hitting the biggest shot of the night.
• Dejan Vasiljevic (Adelaide 36ers): 18 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists. His perimeter shooting stretched Sydney’s defense and his corner three in the final minute was the dagger.
• Isaac Humphries (Adelaide 36ers): 14 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks. Humphries anchored the paint and made Sydney’s interior scoring difficult all a