Clutch KD pours in 27 to lead Kings into Grand Final

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• Josh King's Game 2 halftime spray: 'Get your head out of your ass'

The Sydney Kings dominated the second half to defeat the Perth Wildcats 89–75 at RAC Arena on Saturday night, advancing to the NBL Championship Series.

Sydney trailed by three at half-time but overwhelmed Perth 46–29 after the break to close the series 2–0 and stretch their winning streak to 13 games.

"We knew it was going to be tough," Kings co-captain Xavier Cooks said.

"Close-out games especially are really tough to win.

"They’re a physical team, they smash the boards. They finished with 18 offensive rebounds, so that’s something we’ve still got to clean up. But I thought they definitely challenged us, obviously in the first game, but especially in crucial times this time.

"We’re going to get tested with whoever we play in a grand final series. It’s about what we do in those moments.

"I think Game 1 and Game 2 and all throughout the year we’ve been coming together. It’s most important when you’re getting tested."

Seven-time NBL Coach of the Year Brian Goorjian said it was Cooks and Matthew Dellavedova that had set the tone not just for Game 2 but the Kings NBL26 Minor Premiership.

“You’ve heard me talk all year about leadership," Goorjian said.

"This is a game for players. We learned a lot after last year. These two guys are the captains of the team and they’ve made a huge difference. You saw it tonight and in Game 1 — when you’re under pressure and it’s possession by possession, you need leadership. There was also empowerment. A lot of the problem-solving during the game and the halftime adjustments were done on the fly with these two.

"I tried to make sure I had one of them on the floor the whole game."

NBA champion and Kings co-captain Dellavedova did the job on Wildcats star Kristian Doolittle, restricting the star to just 15 points on 3-for-15 from the field.

"He’s a really tough cover," Dellavedova said.

"I think he was great last year and I got him a little bit last year in the semis, but this year he took it to another level. He can do it all.

"You need everyone to be locked in on the scout and be in the gaps, talking on the screens. I thought our bigs did a good job of talking all night so we knew where the screens were coming from."

Cooks said Dellavedova was key reason the Kings, chasing their sixth title, advanced to the NBL26 Championship Series.

"I absolutely love it," Cooks aid.

"Just watching him work his absolute tail off for all the minutes he played, he’s asking for a sub because he’s trying so hard.

"The physicality he brings, just the wear-down factor to keep Doo-Little to three-for-15, who’s an NBL All-First-Team level player, I think it’s that wear-down effect Delly has. He just plays his ass off every single game. We’re lucky to have him as well."

Kings take control after tight first half

The Kings made an ideal start, scoring the first four points through captain Matthew Dellavedova and Xavier Cooks to briefly silence the home crowd. Perth quickly responded through Ben Henshall and Elijah Pepper, who combined for 12 first-quarter points as the Wildcats edged ahead 23–22 at the first change.

Kendric Davis ignited Sydney’s early offence with five quick points, while Jaylin Galloway and Torrey Craig both connected from deep to give the visitors a nine-point buffer. But Perth’s backcourt pressure and shot-making ensured the contest remained tight, with Pepper’s late triple handing the Wildcats the slender quarter-time lead.

The Wildcats built momentum early in the second term when Pepper hit another three and veteran Jesse Wagstaff chimed in from beyond the arc to push the margin to seven. Sydney’s response came from rising big man Makuach Maluach, who delivered 10 rapid points in the paint and in transition to swing the momentum back.

Despite Maluach’s surge, Perth carried a 46–43 advantage into the main break after Henshall drilled consecutive late triples to reach 17 first-half points.

"Anytime you end the season like this you’re always disappointed," Wildcats head coach John Rillie said.

"We gave it a crack. They’ve got a lot of experience on their roster, played basketball at a high level and probably just wore us down in the end.

"But as I addressed this group afterwards — great group to coach.

"Very proud of what we achieved this year and the growth of everyone. You can go down the list. Our experienced guys grew in who they are as players and people and leaders, and then our young guys — you could see the growth in our core group of young guys.

"We’re certainly disappointed right now but when we all get a minute to reflect I think there’s a lot of good stuff that’s come out of this year for our franchise."

Defensive clamp sparks Sydney surge

Perth struck first after the interval when Kristian Doolittle opened the third quarter with a three-pointer. Davis answered immediately with a long-range make of his own, setting the tone for a grinding period dominated by defence.

Sydney restricted the Wildcats to just 13 points in the third quarter, turning stops into transition opportunities as Tim Soares and Maluach continued to influence the interior. The Kings edged ahead by a single point heading into the final term, setting the stage for a decisive finish.

Even after shooting just six-from-19 through three quarters, Davis found his rhythm when it mattered most. The dynamic guard spearheaded an 8–0 run early in the fourth, combining with Galloway and Maluach before knocking down a crucial three-pointer to extend the lead to double digits.

From there, Sydney controlled the tempo and closed emphatically, scoring the game’s final eight points to seal a 14-point victory and punch their ticket to the Championship Series.

Maluach’s career night headlines balanced attack

Davis finished with 27 points, five rebounds and five assists, overcoming a slow start to deliver another clutch playoff performance. Maluach produced the standout display of his burgeoning NBL career with 23 points on eight-from-12 shooting, adding eight rebounds, two steals and two blocks.

Craig contributed 12 points and seven rebounds, while Dellavedova’s impact went beyond his 11 points and five assists. The veteran guard set the defensive tone, playing a major role in limiting Doolittle to 15 points on three-from-15 shooting.

Cooks also provided a steady two-way presence with eight points, four rebounds and a game-high +22 plus-minus.

Wildcats season ends despite Henshall effort

Perth’s campaign concluded despite a strong showing from Henshall, who finished with 20 points and six rebounds but managed just three points in the second half while battling a calf complaint.

Pepper added 12 points and nine rebounds, while Jo Lual-Acuil Jr controlled the glass with 14 rebounds to go with nine points. The Wildcats shot 33.8 per cent from the field and were unable to match Sydney’s late-game execution.

"You start the season — 10 teams are going to have that championship goal and obviously there’s about three teams left now, so we’re out of the race," Wildcats captain and veteran Jesse Wagstaff said.

"But I’m proud of the growth and how we went about it.

"It’s frustrating for the playing group not to be able to take on the top side of the elimination at full strength. Of course you want full strength but at the end of the day it’s professional sport. Every team deals with injuries throughout the year.

"If you sum it up, there are teams that copped it a hell of a lot worse than us. We’ve got a great performance staff. You try to limit it but guys get knocked and banged up and injured. It provides opportunity for other guys to step in and step up."

By the Numbers

• ‍Sydney Kings – FG 42.5% │ 3PT 32.4% │ FT 88.9% │ Rebounds 44 │ Assists 14 │ Turnovers 8‍
• Perth Wildcats – FG 33.8% │ 3PT 31.0% │ FT 75.0% │ Rebounds 51 │ Assists 15 │ Turnovers 15

Sydney now awaits the winner of the decisive Game 3 between the Adelaide 36ers and South East Melbourne Phoenix as they prepare for their shot at another NBL title.