Davis outduels Doolittle as Kings take series lead

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Sydney Kings import point guard Kendric Davis thought he should have been the NBL26 MVP, well he responded in perfect fashion to Bryce Cotton's 42-point masterclass last night as he led his team to a hard-fought 105-104 win over the Perth Wildcats in game one of the semi-finals series at Qudos Bank Arena.

Davis was kept quiet in the first quarter but could not be stopped after, especially in the second half, as NBL26 Coach of the Year Brian Goorjian's move to use him off the ball on the offensive end proved a masterstroke.

The man, who finished second in MVP voting by just two points, ended the game with 35 points, six assists, three rebounds and two steals while shooting 10-from-15 from the field to out-duel Perth's Kristian Doolittle with the Wildcats star having 31 points, six rebounds and four assists of his own.

Davis said the adversity his team had been through during the season helped them fend-off the Wildcats.

"The adversity we've been through throughout the year showed out today... we've been through adversity, we know how to keep fighting," Davis said in his post-game interview.

Davis also praised the efforts of late-season addition in Torrey Craig, who finished with 20 points and nine rebounds off the bench.

"We're not winning the game without him... big shots, his defence, that block he got on Doolittle at the end, big shots in the first half when we were stagnant, he a vet he's seen it all, we need him," he said.

Despite the win, the Kings almost blew homecourt advantage with the Wildcats leading for majority of the second half and Davis said game two at RAC Arena on Saturday was going to be a "dogfight".

"It's playoff basketball, we've beat them four times, its hard beating a team five times in a row, they've got a great home crowd, Doolittle's great, it's a dogfight, JLA is great, it's going to be a dogfight," he said.

There were concerns for Wildcats forward Dylan Windler, who looked as though he had injured his ankle on the final play of the game.

Key Details

• Result: Sydney Kings 105 def. Perth Wildcats 104
• When: Tuesday, 11th March 2026
• Where: Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney
• Standings: Sydney Kings | Perth Wildcats

By the Numbers

• Kendric Davis (Sydney Kings) starred with 35 points, three rebounds, six assists, two steals in 38 minutes.
• Kristian Doolittle (Perth Wildcats) scored 31 points, and had six rebounds, four assists, two steals, one block in 38 minutes.

What Happened

The Kings established early momentum with a balanced first quarter, leading 22-24 before extending their advantage to 48-44 at the half. Perth responded in the third period, outscoring Sydney 31-25 to take a narrow 75-73 lead heading into the final quarter. The fourth period proved decisive as Sydney outscored Perth 32-29 to secure the thrilling one-point victory.

With 56 lead changes throughout the contest, neither team could establish sustained control. Sydney's biggest lead reached nine points, while Perth managed to build an eight-point advantage at their peak. The Kings' ability to execute an 11-point scoring run proved crucial in weathering Perth's challenges, while the Wildcats' best response was a nine-point streak that kept them competitive.

Kendric Davis was outstanding for Sydney, shooting an efficient 10-from-15 from the field, including a solid 5-from-7 from deep. His 35-point performance was complemented by exceptional accuracy from the charity stripe, converting 10-from-13 free throws. Torrey Craig provided valuable support with 20 points on impressive 8-from-14 shooting, while also cleaning the glass with nine boards and dishing out three dimes.

Perth's offensive attack was led by the dominant Kristian Doolittle, who was on fire with 13-from-22 shooting from the field. His 31-point effort included solid work from downtown, connecting on 2-from-7 triples. Jo Lual-Acuil Jr contributed 19 points on outstanding 9-from-13 shooting, while David Duke Jnr added 20 points with eight assists to orchestrate the Wildcats' offence.

Both teams shot solidly from the field, with Sydney converting at 50.7% compared to Perth's 49.4%. The Kings held a slight edge from outside the arc, shooting 37.1% on triples while Perth managed 37.5%. Sydney's superior free-throw shooting proved pivotal, converting 18-from-23 attempts at 78.3% compared to Perth's 12-from-16 at 75%.

The Wildcats dominated the boards 48-31, but Sydney's superior ball control with just seven turnovers against Perth's 11 ultimately made the difference in this closely-contested affair.