The Sydney Kings have secured their sixth National Basketball League (NBL) championship after a dramatic 113-101 overtime victory against the Adelaide 36ers in the decisive fifth game of the finals series.
In front of a record NBL crowd of 18,589 fans in Sydney on Easter Sunday, Kings guard Kendric Davis was the standout performer, contributing 35 points and 14 assists. His efforts earned him the championship series MVP award.
The 36ers, chasing their first title since 2002, led by seven points at three-quarter time and maintained their advantage until the last minute of regulation. However, a Tim Soares tip-in tied the scores at 95-95 with six seconds left, forcing overtime after Bryce Cotton's last-second shot failed to win it for Adelaide.
Davis dominated the extra period, scoring seven points, while a crucial steal by Makuach Maluach led to a dunk that gave the Kings a game-high 13-point lead. The 36ers' big man Nick Rakocevic fouled out early in overtime, hampering their chances.
The victory marks the Kings' first championship under legendary former coach Brian Goorjian, who returned to revitalise the club last season. The 36ers' season ends in heartbreak despite an inspirational comeback from a 44-point loss in game one.
