SYDNEY KINGS CLINCH NBL26 CHAMPIONSHIP IN THRILLING OVERTIME DECIDER
Sports Desk | Monday 06 April 2026
The “Kingdome” has witnessed many nights of glory, but none as sweet as this. The Sydney Kings are the NBL26 Champions after defeating the Adelaide 36ers in a winner-takes-all Game 5 that will be talked about for decades.
In a Grand Final for the ages, the Sydney Kings captured their sixth NBL championship, overcoming the Adelaide 36ers in a heart-stopping 113–101 overtime victory. Before an all-time NBL record crowd of 18,589 fans at Qudos Bank Arena, the Kings survived a fiery “tit-for-tat” battle to secure their third title in five seasons and the first since the legendary Brian Goorjian returned to revitalise the glamour club.
Kendric Davis from the Sydney Kings website and FB posts
In a game that will be remembered as the “Kendric Davis Masterclass,” the Kings survived a seven-point fourth-quarter deficit to officially mark the triumphant return of their legendary coach.
The Kendric Davis Masterclass: 35 Points, 14 Assists
The story of the night was the sheer dominance of Superstar Kings guard Kendric Davis. In a performance that made his Championship Series MVP award a formality, Davis was everywhere, finishing with a massive 35 points and 14 assists.
Davis’s scoring outburst was a direct response to 36ers leader Bryce Cotton, who put up 35 points of his own in a fiery rivalry that defined the entire five-game series.
The Great Escape: 14 Points in 140 Seconds
The 36ers appeared to have a hand on the trophy, leading by six points with just 2 minutes and 20 seconds left in regulation. However, Davis took the game by the throat, scoring 14 of Sydney’s last 27 points.
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The Equalizer: With the Kings trailing by two in the final seconds, Davis drove to the rim. While his initial long-range attempt missed, Tim Soares soared for a clutch putback to tie the scores at 95–95 with just six seconds remaining.
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The Defensive Stop: On the final possession of regulation, Bryce Cotton drove for a potential game-winner, but the Kings’ defense held firm, forcing the decider into overtime.
Matthew Dellavedova of the Kings shows his frustration during NBL grand final, game five, Sydney Kings v Adelaide 36ers, at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AAP Image/Robbie Stephenson) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY
Overtime Dominance and “Trophy Trouble”
The five-minute overtime period belonged to the Kings. Davis set the tone immediately by stealing the ball from Cotton and adding seven points in the extra period. The knockout blow came in the final minute when Makuach Maluach stripped the ball from Cotton and streaked away for a thunderous one-handed dunk, pushing the lead to a game-high 13 points.
The post-game celebrations were so exuberant they became destructive. As Captain Xavier Cooks hoisted the NBL Champions’ trophy aloft, leaping in joy with his teammates, the figurines of two players attached to the top fell off and broke apart. The Kings ended the night celebrating with three separate pieces of silverware—a broken trophy for a record-breaking win.
Analysis: The Goorjian Mandate & A Legacy Restored
The win marks the first championship since Brian Goorjian returned last season with a mandate to revitalise the “glamour club.” Despite the 36ers twice clawing back to level the series, the Kings proved why they were the favorites all season, turning an Easter Sunday shootout into a legendary sixth title.
While the 36ers were left to rue a missed opportunity to claim their first title since 2002, the Kings have officially cemented their status as a modern dynasty. In an offensive avalanche etched into NBL folklore, Sydney’s “Run and Gun” philosophy proved to be the gold standard of Australian basketball.
Game Detail: The Statistical Breakdown
The Kings’ offense was unstoppable in the final wash-up. The bench played a crucial role, with Kouat Noi contributing 17 points and Makuach Maluach adding 11 points.
The Top Scorers of Game 5:
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Kendric Davis (Sydney Kings): 35 points, 14 assists (MVP)
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Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers): 35 points
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Jaylen Adams (Sydney Kings): 29 points
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Dejan Vasiljevic (Adelaide 36ers): 26 points
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Xavier Cooks (Sydney Kings): 22 points, 14 rebounds
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Montrezl Harrell (Adelaide 36ers): 20 points
The “Kingdome” was a cauldron of noise as the Kings broke the century mark in the final quarter, relentlessly punishing the 36ers’ transition defense and securing the franchise’s most emphatic championship decider in recent memory.
PUBLISHER’S NOTE: The Sydney Times salutes Kendric Davis and the Kings on this historic 113-point Easter Sunday masterpiece. Was this the greatest Grand Final in NBL history? editor@sydneytimes.net.au
