Adelaide 36ers vs Sydney Kings Preview
Sydney are tipped to win a tight Game 5 decider and claim the NBL26 Championship on home court this weekend.
This series has delivered everything from blowouts, clutch finishes, momentum swings and genuine on-court tension. It is the Kings who are backed to win the premiership.
- Adelaide have played in 3 games this series decided by 3 points or less
- Sydney have shot above 50% from the field in 2 of their 4 games this series
- Bryce Cotton has averaged high shot volume in elimination scenarios
- 3 of the last 4 Championship Series Game 5s have gone under the total line
Adelaide 36ers Keep The Series Alive
Adelaide showed enormous composure in Game 4, winning a one-point thriller to force this decider. Their ability to execute late, particularly through Bryce Cotton and Zylan Cheatham was the difference, with multiple players stepping up in key moments.
The biggest shift in that game was support scoring. When Cotton was pressured, Adelaide didn’t stall offensively. Cheatham’s all-round performance opened up the floor and allowed Adelaide to play with more balance.
That remains the key again here. If Adelaide can get meaningful contributions from two or more secondary players, they are capable of matching Sydney possession for possession. If not, the offensive burden on Cotton becomes too heavy against a defence that is built to trap and rotate.
Sydney Kings Remain Favourites
Sydney’s approach has been consistent across the series, control tempo, move the ball and force Adelaide into difficult half-court sets.
Kendric Davis has been the standout player across the Championship Series. His ability to create offence, both for himself and teammates, has given Sydney a clear structural advantage.
When he gets into rhythm early, Sydney’s scoring efficiency spikes significantly, however, he has been guilty of doing too much at times.
Defensively, the Kings have continued to throw multiple looks at Bryce Cotton, including traps and aggressive on-ball pressure. While this worked in Games 1 and 3, Adelaide adjusted in Game 4 by moving the ball quicker and attacking mismatches.
Sydney’s challenge now is execution under pressure. They’ve had opportunities to close this series earlier and will need to be cleaner in late-game situations if they want to avoid another tight finish slipping away.