Giddey guides Adelaide to heart-stopping win over Sydney

He may well be playing in the NBA this time next year, but for now, Josh Giddey continues to light up courts around Australia.

Keanu Pinder shows off his dunking skills. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

NBA-bound star Josh Giddey has notched his third triple-double of the season to keep Adelaide’s finals charge alive in a pulsating nine-point overtime win against the Kings in Sydney.

With their season on the line, the 36ers trailed by as much as 16 points before making it three wins in a row, Giddey and Daniel Johsnon leading the visitors to a stunning 97-88 win at Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday.

“We know what’s at stake here,” Adelaide coach Conner Henry said after his side improved to a 13-16 record, just one win outside the top four.

“We dug ourselves a bit of a hole in the first half … we couldn’t knock shots down.

“I thought our second efforts in the second half really dictated our ability to gain possession and pull the win out.

“We’re not feeling a lot of pressure.”

The Sixers couldn’t find their rhythm early, missing their first six three-point attempts, before Tony Crocker landed one from long range to narrow the Kings’ lead to 19-16 at the first break.

The visitors drew level early in the second term, but Sydney kicked away once again, Shaun Bruce dropping two of his side’s three successive three-pointers to end the half up 47-34.

That margin blew out to a game-high 16 before the Sixers found their groove to go on a stirring late rally, Crocker tying the game at 58-58 as the buzzer sounded to end the third.

Adelaide took the lead for the first time in the game when Brandon Paul drained a three-pointer with eight minutes left in the contest.

Sixers star Josh Giddey has a huge future ahead of him. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

GRANDSTAND FINISH

Tied at 81 entering the last minute, Ware missed a three-pointer before the ball was swatted away from Johnson going to the hoop. With 18.9 seconds left in the game and one second left on the shot clock, the Sixers messed up the inbound, allowing Daniel Kickert to throw up an attempted game winner from the paint as regulation time ran out.

JOHNSON’S GIANT OVERTIME

Sunday Dech hit his first points of the day from long range to put his side up 86-83 early in overtime then Johnson took charge. The star veteran hit two free throws then dropped three three-pointers to drive his side to a win with a team-high 20 points.

RAPTORS RAPT WITH GIDDEY

With NBA talent scouts on hand from the Toronto Raptors, Josh Giddey made their long trip and two-week quarantine worth it. The star guard had 11 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds to continue his hot streak of form.

KINGS ON THE REBOUND

The Kings were coming off their biggest loss of the season – a 25-point drubbing at the hands of Melbourne United – but Jarell Martin helped the home side off to a flyer. The bustling import had 18 points to half-time and finished with a game-high 25.

FINALS QUEST CONTINUES

With 10 games left in the regular season, the Sixers figured they could afford to lose just one more match if they were to make the finals. Double-digit wins at home against the Bullets and the Taipans gave them hope and that belief will grow ahead of Tuesday night’s clash against the Hawks in Wollongong and a return bout against the Kings in Sydney next Sunday.