Sydney Kings humbled by awesome Adelaide
The Adelaide 36ers have caused one of the biggest boil-overs of the season, thrashing NBL leaders Sydney 119-99 yesterday at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.
Led by American forward Jacob Wiley’s 21 points, the 36ers had six players in double figures, handing the Kings their second straight home loss and third defeat in their past five games.
Missing in action for Sydney was NBL MVP favourite Andrew Bogut, who had his worst performance of the season before fouling out early in the fourth period.
Bogut scored six points – all in the first quarter – and grabbed just two rebounds, well below his season average of 12.5 per game.
The Sixers boosted their record to 12-10, while Sydney slipped to 13-8 and are looking increasingly vulnerable, despite the addition of new import Ray Turner.
Signed ostensibly as a back-up for Bogut, Turner had two points, two rebounds in seven minutes before fouling out in his NBL debut.
Jerome Randle led the Kings’ scoring with 23 points and David Wear added 14.
Wiley was on target early with nine quick points, while rookie Harry Froling was his usual productive self with eight off the bench, including a bold threepointer in the dying seconds of the opening quarter.
Bogut and Randle did their best to give the Kings a solid platform with a collective 11 points, but the signs were worrying for coach Andrew Gaze with the Sixers ahead 27-22 at quartertime.
Wiley was proving unstoppable and already had 17 points midway through the second period, as the visitors stretched the margin to 11.
Super-sub Kyle Adnam provided Sydney with a big spark off the bench, while Wear made a couple of key shots to trim the deficit to two.
But the 36ers responded, closing the quarter with another scoring surge to lead 54-47 at halftime.
The Sixers had taken away much of Bogut’s ability to dominate defensively via their fastpaced, perimeter-oriented attack, limiting the 2.13m centre to just two rebounds in the half.
Adelaide’s 54 points were the most scored in the first half against Sydney by any visiting team this season.
Bogut still had just two rebounds after five minutes of the third period and was soon on the bench with twice as many fouls, as the Sixers built a 69-58 lead.
The Kings picked up the pace offensively, but their usual suffocating defence was nowhere to be seen and Adelaide were ahead by 16 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Sixers showed no mercy, powering to a runaway victory.
Adelaide are away to Perth next Friday and the Kings will aim to bounce back against the Bullets in Brisbane, also on Friday.
❚ The New Zealand Breakers are looking to bounce back against Cairns Taipans tomorrow after blowing a healthy 15-point thirdquarter lead against Illawarra on Friday night and losing 107-96.
Front-court duo Todd Blanchfield and Brian Conklin combined for 47 points to lead the Illawarra Hawks to a stunning home comeback victory.
Illawarra were behind at every change before out-scoring the Breakers 34-11 in the final quarter. Jarrad Weeks led New Zealand with 22 points and forward Tom Abercrombie finished with 20. The Kiwis are now seventh, three wins of the top four with nine games left.