‘No backward step’: Kings dig in as rivalry reaches boiling point

After their emphatic Game 1 win over Adelaide, the Sydney Kings knew they’d face a much-improved 36ers on Friday night. And that they did.

Despite leading by as many as 14 and nine going into the fourth quarter, the Kings couldn’t hold onto the lead, with a Bryce Cotton buzzer-beater proving the difference in an epic clash.

“Coming here, we knew we were going to see a different team, as they (the 36ers) had a nice period of time to make adjustments,” Kings coach Brian Goorjian said in the post-game press conference.

“[Their] coach (Mike Wells) did a great job, and the team played a much better game; they’re worthy winners.

“Last game, we did a good job of working our arse off on the defensive end, rebounding and keeping Bryce off the foul line. Last game, they shot six as a team, and tonight they had 21, so that’s an area for us to improve on.

“They made adjustments and came back to their court and won. It's now a Series, and it's the two best teams going at it.

“We expect dogfights the rest of the way, but I'm not disappointed in my team. I thought we gave ourselves an opportunity to win here, it's a tough place to play, and now we’re on to the next one.”

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A big part of that fightback was Cotton, who the Kings had contained through the first seven periods of the Championship Series. He scored 15 of his game-high 28 in the fourth quarter alone.

“They [Adelaide] flattened out the defence and gave him a lot of room to work,” Goorjian said.

“He hit some tough shots, and he got to the foul line.

“It’s all things that we discussed [leading into the game], but they're easy to talk about, and hard to do.

“He's a great player, but I like our strategy and plan for him.”

On the flip side, Goorjian’s star and Sydney’s Game 1 hero, Kendric Davis, struggled on Friday night, only converting on six of his 25 field goals on the night.

“I thought he got where he wanted to tonight, like he did the last game,” Goorjian said.

“He didn't shoot as high a percentage as he has, but they [Adelaide] got a second chance and a lot of time to adjust to him.

“He's our guy, I like where he got the ball tonight, and I like the shots he got.”

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Both teams now turn to Sunday’s Game 3 in Sydney, with tensions between the sides continuing to rise after the post-game clash between Cotton and Davis.

“This is a hard one to swallow, but it's a best-of-five Series,” Goorjian said.

“Both teams are energised and trying to win a championship. People are poking each other every chance they get, but we’re not taking a backward step.

“We’ve worked all year to get home court, and now we're coming back to our place. I like our chances.”

Game 3 of the Championship Series tips off at 2.30pm AEDT at Qudos Bank Arena, live on ESPN and 10.

>> Cotton calm amid chaos after Game 2 drama