A Masterclass Performance by Kendric Davis
In a thrilling game three of the NBL finals series, Sydney’s Kendric Davis delivered a masterclass performance that brought the team within one win of NBL glory. The Sixers defeated Adelaide 106-93 in front of a record crowd of 18,373 fans at Qudos Bank Arena, marking the largest attendance in NBL history.
Davis faced off against Bryce Cotton, who had recently won the league MVP award, in what was a championship series-defining match-up. While Davis had confronted Cotton after the Sixers’ game-two win, he reserved his most ferocious form for this game. He hit four of eight three-point attempts and consistently attacked the paint throughout the match.
The diminutive Texan finished with an impressive 34 points and 15 assists, clearly the standout player of the match. His performance gave the Kings a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series.
Kings coach Brian Goorjian, a six-time champion, praised Davis’s performance, saying, “You don’t play better than that. You’re seeing the two best in that spot go at each other. It’s worth the price of admission. Kendric and Bryce are as good as they get. You’re seeing greatness that’s drawing out the best in both.”
Interestingly, Davis finished the game without a single turnover. Kings centre Tim Soares remarked, “I thought that was a typo,” as he read the box score during the post-match press conference.
Crowd Reaction and Defensive Pressure
The crowd at Qudos Bank Arena was highly vocal, booing Cotton with almost every touch during the game. 36ers coach Mike Wells acknowledged the intensity of the play-off atmosphere, stating, “It’s play-off basketball right? Everybody’s got their heroes and villains.”
Cotton managed 12 assists, but the Kings’ defense, particularly Matthew Dellavedova, kept him under pressure throughout the afternoon. Cotton (15 points) didn’t reach double figures until the third minute of the final quarter, making only five of his 15 field goal attempts.
Wells criticized the officials, claiming they didn’t call enough fouls on those guarding Cotton. “If they want to beat up the MVP and take him out, that’s what the refs have allowed him to do,” he said. “I’m telling my guys to fight through everything, but Matthew Dellavedova didn’t foul the whole night.”
Key Moments and Game Dynamics
Davis made a memorable play in the second half, tearing through the paint and putting a lay-up through Cotton’s foul to bring Sydney within a point at the main break. The crowd chanted “MVP” as Davis took to social media to express his disappointment over missing out on the award earlier in the year. However, he missed his free throw to level the scores.
The lead changed 30 times in the first three quarters, with neither team holding a double-digit advantage. The Kings opened the fourth quarter with a 7-0 run featuring quick three-pointers from Tim Soares (12 points) and Jaylin Galloway (17 points, five from eight three-point attempts). This run created a 10-point buffer that ensured Sydney never trailed again.
Hostile Atmosphere and Final Push
The record crowd was at its most hostile when Cotton contacted Davis’s head as he attempted a three-pointer midway through the final term. Davis went to the line to stretch the lead to what was then a game-high 15 points, and the Kings looked home.
“They outscore us 33-22 in the fourth. That’s probably not the way you’re going to be able to win play-off basketball on the road,” Wells said.
John Jenkins led scoring for the Sixers with 22 points, including a perfect four from four three-pointers in the first quarter.
Looking Ahead
With a 2-1 lead in the series, the Kings can secure their sixth championship and first since Goorjian returned as coach with a victory in Wednesday night’s game four in Adelaide.
