The Kings are in the hunt for the top two while the 36ers try to surpass the record

The Kings are in the hunt for the top two while the 36ers try to surpass the record

While the 2024/25 NBL season was anything but perfect for perennial rivals Sydney Kings, they could finish the year with 12 wins from 20 games and end up in third place in January. The Kings remain in this position and are just two wins off the top two, with Melbourne United still having a few games in hand. Tonight they face the Adelaide 36ers, who are desperate to win and have a terrible away record this season.

Sydney Kings vs Adelaide 36ers

Qudos Bank Arena, 7:30pm AEDT

When Isaac Humphries revealed that the 36ers playing group was struggling to know everyone’s role due to the high turnover on the roster, it set off alarm bells among prospects. Although on the surface it appeared as if that was exactly the case, the confirmation of that uncertainty was still unsettling, particularly for Adelaide fans.

On paper, the 36ers have some really talented players – especially big players – and if everything works out on their day, they should be able to challenge the best teams. Unfortunately, there isn’t much to play for this year, and despite having such good tallies, the team ranks last in rebounds and has more points and assists than any other team, as well as leading the opposition in field goal percentage and the three-point quota in the last two places.

Those are damning statistics that suggest they’re just below average offensively – sixth in points and seventh in assists – but defensively they’re arguably the worst in the competition. That needs to change on the run if they want to have a chance of clinching a play-in spot with half a dozen rounds left in the NBL season.

As it stands, the 36ers have lost seven of their last eight games, with a single 17-point win against New Zealand – who are currently on an eight-game losing streak – their only success since mid-November. In that time they have lost twice to Brisbane and Perth, as well as United, the Phoenix and JackJumpers. They defeated Illawarra on November 10, where the 36ers were 6-10 at the time and had won six of their last eight games. Then everything became pairs.

In the only other contest between the two teams, Adelaide won 89-79, but Sydney’s overall season was far better. With the exception of a three-game dip in form at the end of October, the Kings have recovered and picked up six wins last night. However, the Kings will be looking to make amends for their three-point loss to Illawarra against the 36ers on Christmas Day.

A big question will be who can get their hands on more of Kendric Davis and Jaylen Adams. Both are excellent distribution players and lead their teams with more than six and a half assists per game. Five Sydney players averaged double figures in points and were available for most of the season. Adams (15.9 points) is just behind former league MVP Xavier Cooks (16.0), with Cook also averaging a balanced 8.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists.

Cameron Oliver and Alex Toohey can provide great support away from the boards, while Keil Leaupepe has shown plenty to suggest he will only get better from here. Kouat Noi is a three-point machine, shooting two shots per game from distance to average 12.1 points in the 2024-25 season.

It was much more difficult for the 36ers, with Davis and fellow import Montrezl Harrell doing much of the heavy lifting. Davis (23.6 points, 7.4 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals) and Harrell (19.1 points, 8.8 rebounds) are having great seasons despite the team’s form, while Dejan Vasiljevic and Humphries always provide support from a distance or in defense.

After that, however, things went downhill for the 36ers and with the second-worst away record in the league (1-6), they face a big challenge at the Qudos Bank Arena. The Kings are torn there (4-3), but should be refreshed and ready to start the year with a win.

TIP = Sydney Kings at 17