WHILE the 2024/25 NBL season has been far from perfect for perennial contenders Sydney Kings, they could finish the year with 12 wins from 20 games and sit third heading into January. The Kings remain in that position and just just two victories off the top two with a couple of games in hand to Melbourne United. Tonight, they take on an Adelaide 36ers outfit desperate for a win, and with a horrid away record this season.

Sydney Kings vs. Adelaide 36ers

Qudos Bank Arena, 7:30pm AEDT

When Isaac Humphries revealed the 36ers playing group was struggling to know each individual’s role given the high turnover of the list, it sent alarm bells through interested parties. While externally that exactly appeared to be the case, the confirmation of such uncertainty was still an uneasy thing to hear, particularly for Adelaide fans.

On paper, the 36ers have some seriously talented players – particularly bigs – and on their day if everything can click, they should be able to challenge the best sides. Unfortunately not much has gone to play this year and despite boasting such quality talls, rank last for rebounds, and concede more points and assists than any other side, as well as being in the bottom two for opposition field goal percentage and three-point percentage.

They are damning stats that suggest offensively they are just below middle of the road – sixth for points and seventh for assists – but defensively, they are arguably the worst in the competition. It is something that will need to change on the run if they are to have any chance of sneaking into a Play-In spot with half a dozen rounds remaining in the NBL season.

As it stands, the 36ers have lost seven of their past eight, with a sole 17-point win over New Zealand – currently on an eight-game losing streak – the only success since mid-November. In that time, they have lost to Brisbane and Perth twice, as well as United, the Phoenix and JackJumpers. They did beat Illawarra on November 10, which at that stage the 36ers were 6-10 and had won six of their past eight. Then it all went pair shaped.

In the only other contest between the sides, Adelaide won 89-79, but Sydney’s season as a whole has gone far better. With the exception of a form slump for three games late in October, the Kings have bounced back to win six of the past night. Though a three-point loss to Illawarra on Christmas Day is something the Kings will look to atone for against the 36ers.

A key watch will be who can get their hands on the rock more out of Kendric Davis and Jaylen Adams. Both are superb distributors and lead their sides for assists, with more than six and a half per match. Five Sydney players averaged double-digit points and have been available for most of the season. Adams (15.9 points) is just behind former league MVP Xavier Cooks (16.0), with Cook also averaging a well-balanced 8.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists.

Cameron Oliver and Alex Toohey can provide great support off the boards, while Keil Leaupepe has shown plenty to suggest he will only get better from here. Kouat Noi is a three-point machine, firing off two makes per game from long-range for an average of 12.1 points in the 2024/25 season.

The going has been much tougher for the 36ers, with Davis and fellow import Montrezl Harrell doing much of the heavy lifting. Davis (23.6 points, 7.4 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals) and Harrell (19.1 points, 8.8 rebounds) are having great seasons despite the team form, while Dejan Vasiljevic and Humphries will always provide support from long-range and in the paint respectively.

After that it drops off for the 36ers though, and with the second worst away record in the league (1-6), they face a stiff challenge up at Qudos Bank Arena. The Kings are hit and miss there (4-3), but should be refreshed and ready to go to head into the new year with a win.

TIP = Sydney Kings by 17