Sixers’ unlikely hero dethrones Kings in tense battle
Shayne Hope |
Unlikely hero Flynn Cameron had a career-best night as the ladder-leading Adelaide 36ers made a statement in the NBL title race with an 85-79 win over Sydney.
Bryce Cotton never quite found his range under close attention, but Cameron stepped up in front of a sold-out Adelaide crowd on Friday night, posting 25 points on 9-of-10 shooting to end the Kings’ six-game winning streak.
Cameron’s tally included 6-of-7 shooting from long range – three of those triples in a decisive last-quarter contribution – on a night when most others struggled from three-point territory.
Kendric Davis (26 points) fed off the jeers of Sixers fans on his return to Adelaide and looked like Sydney’s game-winner, helping the visitors to double-digit leads either side of halftime.
But Cameron, Isaac Humphries (15 points), Zylan Cheatham (eight points, 13 rebounds) and Cotton all fought to drag the Sixers back into the contest.
Cotton was often double- and triple-teamed, and was restricted to shooting at 32 per cent from the field, but still managed 16 points and 10 assists.
There were nine lead changes in the final quarter of the entertaining arm-wrestle, which was played with playoffs-like intensity and physicality.
It hung in the balance until Cotton and DJ Vasiljevic threes – either side of a long-range Davis miss – sealed the result in the last minute.
It was the first win for Adelaide (18-4) over Sydney in three attempts this season, after a heavy 24-point home defeat in round four and an overtime loss a fortnight ago.
“Us as a team, collectively, we felt like we owed them one,” Cameron said.
“We were 0-2 against them going into this game and they were the only team we hadn’t beaten all season.
“Everyone else we’d beaten, so to get this one under our belt, we feel confident going into the playoffs knowing that we can beat every team in the competition.”
The fourth-placed Kings, who were without forward Kouat Noi (illness), slipped to 13-8 and lost defensive star Bul Kuol to a knee injury before halftime.
Tim Soares was in foul trouble throughout and restricted to less than 19 minutes before being given his marching orders late in the contest.
Davis, Matthew Dellavedova (15 points) and Xavier Cooks (11 points, 13 rebounds) gave Sydney the upper hand for long periods.
But Kings coach Brian Goorjian felt his team was left one or two bodies short as Adelaide gradually ground them down.
“Full credit to them, they’re a great team, but I’m really happy with how we went about our business,” Goorjian said.
“It was quite obvious where it went wrong for us: we had groups out there that had never played together.
“We were dependent a lot on KD (Davis), just one guy offensively dribbling the ball.
“The Bul hit was a big one. He had a big influence in both times we’ve played these guys prior and he’s real important.”
Goorjian was unsure of the extent of Kuol’s injury, but expects Noi to return from illness in the home clash with South East Melbourne on Monday.
Adelaide also have a second game in round 15, visiting the struggling Brisbane Bullets on Sunday.
AAP
