NBL Playoff Weekend Roundup: Sydney Kings sweep Perth Wildcats to advance to NBL Grand Final as Phoenix force decisive Game 3

The NBL semi-finals delivered contrasting storylines as one series concluded and another reached its climactic finale. Sydney‘s methodical dismantling of Perth showcased championship pedigree, while South East Melbourne‘s stunning revival has created one of the most anticipated deciding games in recent memory.

Kings demonstrate championship mettle in series sweep

The Sydney Kings advanced to their ninth NBL grand final after completing their semi-final sweep of the Perth Wildcats with an authoritative 89-75 victory at RAC Arena. The regular-season champions applied defensive pressure when it mattered most, outscoring Perth 29-16 in the fourth quarter and 46-29 in the second half.

Kendric Davis led the Kings with 27 points, while Makuach Maluach delivered a career-best 23 points off the bench. « I’m just really proud of our boys, » Sydney co-captain Xavier Cooks said. « It wasn’t the prettiest game and it got tough. But when it got tough, the boys really came together. »

BUCKETS DON’T COME MUCH TOUGHER 😮‍💨#BannersArentRaisedAlone pic.twitter.com/doL65yDIki

— Sydney Kings (@SydneyKings) March 14, 2026

Perth‘s hopes were hampered by injuries and shooting struggles. Ben Henshall posted 20 points including five 3-points but was limited by cramps in the second half. The Wildcats were already without import Dylan Windler, who injured his left foot in Game 1’s dying seconds. Kristian Doolittle managed 15 points but shot a dismal 3-of-15 from the floor as Perth connected on just 9-of-37 attempts after halftime.

Phoenix stage remarkable comeback to force Game 3 decider

In a dramatic turnaround, South East Melbourne Phoenix overcame an 18-point second-quarter deficit to defeat Adelaide 36ers 101-92, leveling their series at 1-1. The comeback prompted harsh criticism from SEN Radio‘s Kane Cornes, who called Adelaide’s collapse an « all-time choke. »

Phoenix coach Josh King delivered a blunt halftime message that sparked the revival. « It was more or less ‘get your head out of your a***’, we’ve got 20 minutes to save our season and if we’re gonna go down, we’re going to go down playing the way we’ve played all year long, » King revealed.

Nathan Sobey spearheaded the comeback with a career-high 41 points, earning comparisons to NBA legend Kobe Bryant from Cornes, who dubbed him « Sobey Bryant. » The Phoenix dominated the third quarter 39-20, transforming their defensive intensity and rebounding effort to completely shift the series momentum.

Nathan Sobey Highlights vs Adelaide ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/KlXClkql9W

— NBL (@NBL) March 14, 2026

The winner-takes-all Game 3 will determine who faces Sydney in the grand final. King emphasized the stakes: « We’ve played them six times this year, it’s 3-3 and we’re going to Game 7 on Tuesday. Here we go. » The decisive clash tips off at 7:30pm AEDT on Tuesday, live on ESPN, with both teams knowing their season hangs in the balance.