Kings thump Phoenix, beat Bullets to Finals berth

The Sydney Kings have trounced a sorry South East Melbourne Phoenix in historic fashion to leapfrog Brisbane and lock themselves into the NBL Finals keeping their two-time championship defence alive.

The Kings' 122-67 win at John Cain Arena on Saturday means they finish either fifth or six, depending on the final game of the regular season between Adelaide and New Zealand on Sunday.

The 55-point margin is a record for the Kings and the biggest in the league's 40-minute era, while their total is the highest of the season.

Injury-hit Phoenix (10-18) limped through the final stages of the season to collect the wooden spoon in Mike Kelly's first season back as a head coach.

On Friday the Bullets could have taken the Kings out of the picture, but they lost to the Breakers in Auckland and were left relying on a Phoenix upset to book just their second finals campaign in eight seasons since their league return.

It was a one-basket game midway through the first quarter on Saturday before a 17-point run saw the Kings build a 20-point lead at the break to effectively end the contest and put the Bullets out of their misery.

The Kings and Brisbane both finished with 13-15 records, the Kings prevailing with a superior percentage to keep alive their dreams of a three-peat.

That's despite their rocky 3-7 run into the Finals attracting its share of criticism.

The Kings will play the Breakers in a sudden-death Play-In Qualifier - hosting rights will be determined on Sunday.

The winner moves on to a Play-In Game against the loser of third and fourth place in the Seeding Qualifier.

The winner of the Play-In Game meets second-placed Perth in a three-game Play-Off Series.

Minor premiers Melbourne United wait in the other Play-Off Series to decide the other finalist. 

Jaylen Adams (24 points, nine assists) had 17 first-half points and four assists to set the tone on Saturday, but he didn't relent after the interval.

With a 36-point lead, Adams deflected a Phoenix pass, then won the sprint to the loose ball and made a lay-up as the Kings led 92-56 at three-quarter time.

Denzel Valentine (17 points, eight rebounds, four assists) and DJ Hogg (25 points, seven rebounds) dominated at both ends, while rookie Alex Toohey (16 points, six rebounds) also dined out. 

HUNGRY JACKS NBL ROUND 20

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 67 (Foxwell 16, Creek 13, Rapp 7, Vague 7)

SYDNEY KINGS 122 (Hogg 25, Adams 24, Galloway 17, Valentine 17)

BOX SCORE