The Adelaide 36ers will be looking to take top spot on the NBL table when they take on the Sydney Kings in a Round 11 double-header with the first of those being played in South Australia. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage of the match from 7:30pm (AEDT).
While the 36ers have already gotten the better of the Kings once this season, turning their season around when they were sitting at the bottom of the table, this much has plenty riding on it.
Following this match, the teams will get straight on the plane to Sydney for a Sunday afternoon blockbuster that is likely to decide who holds first spot at the end of Round 11.
The 36ers have had a monumental rise from the bottom, winning all of their last five games including a brilliant double at home against New Zealand and on the road to Cairns last weekend.
Jerome Randle has been the key man with his attack going to a whole new level, and Adelaide have moulded themselves into probably the most exciting team to watch in the league.
Their transition play is simply scintillating and it’s no wonder they hold the best offensive record in the league.
What does bring Adelaide undone though is their defence and for that reason Sydney need to be locked in this game, but not just through stars Brad Newley and Kevin Lisch.
While the Kings two superstars might be in the top five for scoring, the team simply haven’t found their offensive flow and with inconsistency troubling them at both ends of the court, they are only just hanging onto the top spot.
Plenty of issues flared up last weekend for the Kings last weekend as they went down to Melbourne by seven and even though they haven’t been getting blown out, their level of play looks nothing like what you would expect from the top team in the competition.
Essentially, the Kings are getting very little production off the bench and it’s hurting them big time as they leak too many points and not score enough themselves with a stagnant looking offence.
There is enough going right for them to have a record of ten and seven, but if they are going to compete with the red-hot 36ers, they need to rediscover the form they started the season in – and quickly.
Prediction
Adelaide have really produced something special in the last couple of weeks and with a five-match winning streak it’s hard to see the hot and cold Kings getting a road win.
36ers by 8.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this top of the table match in the NBL from 7:30pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below.
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Scott Pryde
Expert
Well, thanks for joining me this evening on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2016-17 NBL Season as the Adelaide 36ers grabbed a stunning comeback win against the Sydney Kings. Hopefully you enjoyed the coverage. Unfortunately, we don't have blogs of tomorrow's games but should be back from Sunday. On a sidenote, this is my last blog for 2016. I'll still be popping up around the site but otherwise taking a couple of weeks off from the blogging side of things. I'll be back in January though - and won't it be big with Cycling, Tennis, Cricket and of course NBL! I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Thanks for reading! Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Jerome Randle is man of the match.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Well, the Sydney Kings have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory here after what was an excellent fourth quarter comeback from the 36ers. Strange game, plenty of sloppiness and the best bit - we get to see it all again Sunday.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME What a game! The 36ers have 6 straight but that could have even been a foul on that last play. Newley got to half court and got bumped pretty hard before firing a shot, throwing it half the court and it came off the front iron. No good but the 36ers are just on fire. What an incredible fourth quarter from Adelaide. Adelaide 36ers - 82 Sydney Kings - 80
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Sobey misses the first... Makes the second. 36ers - 82 Kings - 80
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Somehow, a stack of time has elapsed there. 2 seconds on the clock and a foul by the looks of it. Sobey to the line. 36ers - 81 Kings - 80
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' From the inbound it's Lisch and there is a foul before the inbound! IT'S OFFENSIVE! LISCH! Oh dear. He has bowled Creek over and the 36ers will have the ball, the lead and just 4 on the clock. 36ers - 81 Kings - 80
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Johnson makes both!!! Adelaide are up by a point with 4 seconds to go. This game is just nuts. Timeout called by Gaze. What can he draw up? Surely something for Lisch. 36ers - 81 Kings - 80
Scott Pryde
Expert
Johnson makes the first and we are all square.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Oh dear. Powell has had a shocking couple of seconds. Johnson into the paint here as Adelaide try something different and he looks to get rid of it to Randle - it's a FOUL! Johnson will go to the line for the biggest free throws of his life. Josh Powell fouled out 36ers - 79 Kings - 80
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Eight seconds and Randle looks to get around Cadee. He has been wrapped up with 7 seconds on the clock. 36ers - 79 Kings - 80
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Powell must have heard the shot clock expiring and he thought it was the end of the game. Ruined such a good defensive set from the inbound. Timeout on the floor. 36ers - 79 Kings - 80
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Ferguson under all sorts of pressure and Randle has to fire from the car park. It's no good and NEITHER IS THIS! What the hell is this from Josh Powell. He has launched it up the floor and it's outran Newley to the baseline. What? Sydney by 1 with eight on the clock. 36ers - 79 Kings - 80
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Looks like we are having some sort of decision review here. Might be off Randle here rather than Powell and I must admit that was my first impression. No evidence to overrule so an Adelaide ball with 5 on the shotclock. 36ers - 79 Kings - 80
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Randle with some great stuff into the lane here and he runs into Powell who rejects the shot over the baseline. 5 seconds on the shotclock here. Josh Powell has been really good tonight 36ers - 79 Kings - 80
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Randle looks to drive straight around Lisch here and he stops the easy penetration into the lane with a foul. Kings have a few to give and that's a real smart foul. 28 seconds to go. 36ers - 79 Kings - 80
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Right, here come the Kings. They need a bucket here and Lisch pulls the trigger on a THREE! OH! DAGGER! 36ers - 79 Kings - 80
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' It's far from over here. Kings call time with 51 seconds on the clock. 36ers - 79 Kings - 77
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Oh wow! Lisch has turned it over for the Kings and Randle goes racing down the court, finding Sobey with a bounce pass who lays it in and sends Adelaide to the lead! The 36ers have come from well behind and lead this thing with 51 seconds to go. 36ers - 79 Kings - 77
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Randle running the shot clock here trying to make something happen before he goes into the lane for Johnson to tie it up. 36ers - 77 Kings - 77