Adelaide 36ers force NBL championship rubber match after dramatic 92-91 victory over Sydney Kings
Game 4 thriller - The Adelaide 36ers have leveled the NBL championship series at 2-2 following a heart-stopping 92-91 victory over the Sydney Kings, with Torrey Craig's crucial missed free throw in the final seconds setting up a title-deciding Game 5 on Easter Sunday.
Adelaide 36ers force NBL championship rubber match after down to the wire win in game 4 at home Photo Credit: Adelaide 36ers
The NBL championship series is heading to a winner-takes-all finale after one of the most dramatic finishes in recent memory. With 2.8 seconds remaining and the Kings trailing by two points, Torrey Craig stepped to the free-throw line with the chance to tie the game at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Wednesday night.
The experienced American made his first attempt but left the second shot well short, with Adelaide’s Isaac Humphries securing the crucial rebound to seal a thrilling victory for the home side.
ADELAIDE WIN AND WE’RE GOING TO GAME 5 🤯
SUNDAY. pic.twitter.com/BRpmmbLa1Z
— NBL (@NBL) April 1, 2026
Cheatham leads 36ers’ balanced attack
Import Zylan Cheatham was instrumental in Adelaide’s victory, flirting with a triple-double with 23 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists. Captain Dejan Vasiljevic and Bryce Cotton provided excellent support, contributing 19 points each in the crucial win.
« Throughout the entire year, we’ve found ways to win, » 36ers coach Mike Wells said. « Great players end up making great plays. We do have a bunch of that on this team, and we’ve got grit. We just figured out how to win. »
For Sydney, Kendric Davis faced a hostile crowd all evening but delivered 22 points and 10 assists, while Jaylin Galloway added 20 points, including five 3-points. Despite their strong individual performances, it wasn’t enough to close out the series.
The game featured multiple lead changes and momentum shifts. Adelaide started strong with a 5-0 lead before falling behind 14-22, then responded with a 17-4 run spanning the first quarter break to take a 31-26 advantage. Sydney regained control with a 13-1 run late in the second quarter, extending their halftime lead to 53-46.
The Kings maintained their efficiency in the third quarter, shooting 63.6 percent in the first half and building their largest lead at 71-62 on a Makuach Maluach 3-pointer. However, Adelaide’s persistence paid off as Cheatham’s last-second tip-in off a Cotton miss cut Sydney’s lead to 74-72 entering the final quarter.
The fourth quarter lived up to its billing as a championship-level battle. With scores tied at 90-all, Davis missed a crucial 3-point attempt under pressure. Cotton then knocked down two free throws with a minute remaining after Matthew Dellavedova was called for his first foul since Game 2, setting up the dramatic finish.
Triple threat tonight💥#SixersStrong #WeAreSixers pic.twitter.com/I02v3Yq1VT
— Adelaide 36ers (@Adelaide36ers) April 1, 2026
« Anybody’s game – you want to play them like that here and have an opportunity, » Sydney coach Brian Goorjian said. « With a minute to go, we had a chance to win the game. I thought we played it how we wanted to play it, but it didn’t go our way. »
The series now moves to Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena for the decisive Game 5 on Easter Sunday, with both teams having everything to play for in what promises to be an unforgettable championship finale.
Sylvain Sultat follows the NBA on a daily basis, covering individual performances, team dynamics, and the league's greatest stories. On Be-Basketball, he breaks down the latest American basketball news with passion and consistency, always on the lookout for the trends shaping the world of basketball.
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