The excitement of HoopsFest came to a close with a thrilling matchup between the Sydney Kings and the Adelaide 36ers. In a game filled with twists and turns, the Kings managed to hold off the 36ers’ late surge to secure a 102-94 victory.
The Kings, touted as top contenders for the title, lived up to their reputation early on, racing to a 16-point lead within the first four minutes. However, the 36ers, fueled by the debut of new import Montrezl Harrell and former Kings guard Dejan Vasiljevic, staged an impressive comeback to take a five-point lead into the final quarter.
The Kings’ depth was on full display as they fought back, with Alex Toohey and Bul Kuol coming alive in the final term. Toohey scored 10 points, while Kuol nailed two crucial triples to help seal the win. Jaylen Adams led the Kings with a game-high 25 points, supported by strong performances from Cam Oliver and Xavier Cooks.
Despite Adelaide’s valiant effort, the Kings’ starting five proved to be the difference-maker. “When it got tough, I found five guys who battled,” said Kings coach Brian Goorjian. “That group of five started the game and played a great game all the way through.”
Harrell, making his debut for the 36ers, finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Vasiljevic and Lat Mayen scored 19 points each. The 36ers’ coach, Mike Wells, praised Harrell’s competitive spirit, saying, “He knows how to play, and he’s going to get better and better.”
In the end, the Kings’ experience and depth proved too much for the 36ers, as they closed out the final night of HoopsFest with a hard-fought win.
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