DJ delivers in OT as Giddey racks up another triple-double

The Adelaide 36ers charge towards an unlikely NBL finals appearance has continued with another Josh Giddey triple-double and dominant Daniel Johnson overtime performance in Sunday's 97-88 win over the Sydney Kings.

The Sixers had been in hot form at home in recent times recording double-digit victories against the Illawarra Hawks, Perth Wildcats, Brisbane Bullets and Cairns Taipans, but to make a real finals push they had to take that form on the road.

But the Kings were glad to be back at Qudos Bank Arena themselves even still shorthanded in the continued absence of Brad Newley, Didi Louzada, DJ Vasiljevic and Xavier Cooks.

Despite that, the Kings were on top most of the afternoon leading by as much as 16 to start the second half, and still by five with 2:30 to go in regulation after a huge triple from Tom Vodanovich.

But Adelaide was able to force overtime on the back of a corner three from big man Isaac Humphries, and then it was Daniel Johnson's turn to dominate the extra period for the visitors.

He only had seven points on 2/13 shooting going into overtime, but he delivered a remarkable performance in the final five minutes nailing three triples on his way to 13 points to end up top-scoring for Adelaide with 20 points and eight rebounds.

Sunday Dech also scored his only points of the game in overtime as Adelaide went on a 13-0 run to secure the seven-point win and keep their playoff hopes alive.

On top of Johnson's overtime heroics, Next Star Josh Giddey collected his third triple-double in the last four games and secured it with the rebound on the game's last possession. He finished the afternoon with an impressive 11 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds.

Brandon Paul was strong in the first four quarters with 19 points while Tony Crocker also scored 12 points for the Adelaide, Keanu Pinder 11 and Isaac Humphries 11 to go with nine rebounds and six emphatic blocks.

Dech also had nine rebounds and nine assists to go with his stifling defence but really Adelaide was impressive with 20 offensive rebounds for 33 second chance points, and with their 10 blocks as a team.

Adelaide coach Conner Henry was delighted the 36ers were able to bring their home effort on the road with them.

"It felt like we were ready to play on the road. We know what's at stake here and we did kind of dig ourselves a bit of a hole in that first half. We had 10 pretty good looks and we couldn’t knock shots down so it was pretty bad offensively, but we were getting good shots," Henry said.

"We tried to talk about things at the half about being a little bit better executing on our play calls and what we wanted to do, and we were better in the second half. I also thought our second efforts overall in the second half and in the overtime really dictated our ability to gain possession, and pull the win out."

Going to overtime was hardly ideal for an already undermanned Kings outfit and they ended up having six players that played at least 24 minutes with Jarrad Weeks playing almost 16 minutes in his first game back with the club.

Jarell Martin had 25 points and seven rebounds on 10/26 shooting for Sydney with Casper Ware adding 17 points and eight assists, Jordan Hunter 13 points and nine boards, Tom Vodanovich 13 points and five rebounds, and Shaun Bruce 12 points and four assists.

Kings coach Adam Forde can't help but feel it is one that his team let get away.

"There were a couple of times throughout the game mainly throughout the first half where we got a bit of a lead but Adelaide would come back," Forde said.

"Then we did it to the biggest degree heading into the half, but then in the third quarter we made a meal out of it. The obvious thing is their offensive rebounds hurting us and the 33 second chance points. 

"Even in overtime we come out of the timeout and do a good job executing down our end, but they took the momentum from us especially in transition. They also got those rebounds and we would contest a shot, and miss the rebound and Sunday flies in from the weakside in that first possession of overtime. 

"He grabs it and they throw it into DJ underneath the basket. I think this one is going to come back to haunt us."

Sydney was enjoying being back home early and led 11-6 when Casper Ware knocked down a triple, and when Daniel Kickert and Jarell Martin scored too easily in the post, that lead went out to 17-10.

Adelaide kept in touch with big blocks from Isaac Humphries and Keanu Pinder, and then with a triple from Tony Crocker and three-point player to be just three down at quarter-time despite shooting 6/22 from the field on the road.

Sydney would take back over to start the second quarter, though, with Shaun Bruce and Martin knocking down threes with Martin also finishing off an alley-oop pass from Ware for a 10-0 run.

Adelaide did steady and got back within two when Daniel Johnson and Brandon Paul combined for six consecutive points, but the Kings closed the half with three consecutive triples from Bruce, Tom Vodanovich and Bruce again to be in control at 47-34.

Sydney threatened to break the game wide open stretching their lead to 18 to start the second half, but then Adelaide responded and got on a roll. 

A spectacular and-one play backed up by three balls from Humphries, Giddey and then on the buzzer Crocker suddenly saw scores tied at 58-58 by three quarter-time.

It was a remarkably dramatic fourth quarter beginning when the 36ers took the lead for the first time in the match thanks to yet another three-pointer from Paul.

It became a battle of trading three balls with Martin and Ware knocking them down for Sydney only to be answered by Pinder, Jack McVeigh and then Paul again for the 36ers.

The Kings managed a 7-0 to lead by five with 2:30 to go but the 36ers responded with five points from Giddey and Humphries to tie scores up, and that's where things stayed with Kickert's attempted floater not falling at the end of regulation for Sydney.

What a remarkable overtime period there was to come. All Adelaide's 16 points were courtesy of Sunday Dech and Johnson who only had seven points between at the end of the fourth quarter.

Johnson sealed the stunning road overtime win with three triples in the extra period alone to ensure Adelaide took their hot home form away with them.

It's a massive week to come for both teams as the finals race remains hot. Sydney hosts the Brisbane Bullets on Thursday while the 36ers head to the 'Gong to play the Illawarra Hawks on Tuesday. The Kings then host the 36ers again on Sunday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 17

SYDNEY KINGS 88 (Martin 25, Ware 17, Hunter 13, Vodanovich 13)

ADELAIDE 36ERS 97 (Johnson 20, Paul 19, Crocker 12) 

BOX SCORE https://nbl.com.au/games/1875315