Superstar import Jaylen Adams' massive three-pointer with 3.5 seconds remaining has launched the Sydney Kings back into the NBL top four after a nail-biting 93-90 victory over the Adelaide 36ers.
After MVP candidate Adams (26 points, seven assists) buried the critical basket for his fifth three-pointer, the Sixers called two time-outs but fluffed the last play.
Daniel Johnson was only able to throw up an under-pressure, off-balance, off-target two-pointer.
Kings co-captain Xavier Cooks (25 points, 10 rebounds) was as influential as Adams at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre in securing red-hot Sydney's fifth successive victory as he narrowly shaded Cam Bairstow (18, eight) in an engrossing front-court duel.
"It was a heck of a basketball game," Kings coach Chase Buford said.
"Adelaide came at us from the opening tip and we struggled to guard them one-on-one for a lot of the night.
"In the second half we did a much better job of limiting them to second-chance opportunities."
Dusty Hannahs (24 points) provided instant offence off the bench for the 36ers, who led at every change, belted Sydney in the rebound count (46-34), but simply had no answers for Adams.
Adams fired 18 of his points in the first half, including four-of-four from deep, but it was the Sixers who had their noses in front, 25-23 at quarter-time and 47-45 at half-time, which ended with a miraculous Cooks' triple on the bell.
Cooks' thunderous dunk for a three-point play was the highlight of the third stanza, which Adelaide finished with a 6-0 run to hold sway 71-69 at the last change.
Shaun Bruce sank two treys and Cooks gradually got on top of Bairstow as Sydney threatened to pull away in the fourth.
Hannahs' slick drive and floating finish with 47 seconds left tied the scores before Adams broke the deadlock in spectacular style.
"Great start, great energy and the execution of the game plan was very solid," 36ers coach CJ Bruton said of his team's valiant performance.
"We took the right shots but unfortunately we came up short again.
"He (Adams) is an elite player and Cooks did Cooks things."
