Sydney Kings Celebrate NBL Glory as Trophy Shatters in Wild Overtime Win
The Sydney Kings have done it again and in spectacular fashion. Their championship triumph over the Adelaide 36ers wasn’t just a win—it was a spectacle. Game five of the 2026 NBL finals pushed fans to the edge, stretching into overtime and delivering one of the most dramatic finishes in league history. The Kings claimed a 113-101 victory and the celebration got so intense that the NBL trophy itself broke in the hands of captain Xavier Cooks, a moment that perfectly captured the emotion and chaos of the night.
The showdown featured an epic duel between superstar guards Kendric Davis and Bryce Cotton. Davis, now firmly cemented as the Finals MVP, dropped 35 points along with 14 assists, matching Cotton’s scoring but ultimately outshining him when it mattered most. Adelaide held the lead late into the fourth quarter, seven points ahead at three-quarter time and clinging to a six-point advantage with just over two minutes remaining. But the Kings, fueled by a deafening crowd of 18,589—the largest ever for the NBL—mounted an incredible comeback to force overtime.
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In the extra period, Davis’s leadership and clutch shooting defined the outcome. Tim Soares and Makuach Maluach added crucial points, with Maluach blocking, stealing and dunking in a sequence that left the 36ers reeling. The energy from the crowd became a game-changing force. As Davis and Cooks later admitted, that record-setting home support was pivotal, disrupting the opposition and lifting Sydney’s own performance at the perfect moments.
Coach Brian Goorjian, already a legend in Australian basketball, celebrated his third championship in five years, praising the fans and his players for delivering a night that will live long in memory. The Kings’ victory is more than a team win—it’s a statement of dominance in the NBL, showcasing resilience, talent and the power of home-court advantage on an unprecedented scale.
This game also marks a passing of the torch in the league’s rivalry narrative. Davis, facing his former club and the iconic Bryce Cotton, showed he’s ready to leave his own imprint on Australian basketball. The dramatic finish, record crowd and trophy-breaking celebrations highlight just how much excitement and attention the NBL can generate, not just locally but globally.
For fans of basketball and sports lovers everywhere, the takeaway is clear: the NBL is thriving, the Sydney Kings are in their prime and the intensity of this league is only growing. Stay tuned, keep watching and follow the journey—because if this season has shown us anything, it’s that the next chapter could be even more unforgettable.
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