MANILA, Philippines – The Adelaide 36ers’ woes continue to pile up in the National Basketball League after an 84-77 home loss to the Sydney Kings on Saturday, April 9.

Kai Sotto put up 8 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 block in 16 minutes of play in the defeat that marked the 36ers’ third consecutive loss and 16th overall in 23 games.

Hyrum Harris pulled Adelaide within two possessions off a layup with less than five minutes remaining, 66-72, but the Kings pulled away for good behind a 12-3 run powered by Xavier Cooks and Jaylen Adams.

Adams and Cooks scored all of the 12 points – including a triple each – during that spurt that gave Sydney its biggest lead of the game at 15 points.

Cooks waxed hot for 22 points on an ultra-efficient 10-of-12 clip to go with 9 rebounds and 3 blocks, Dejan Vasiljevic tallied 15 points, while Adams added 12 points and 5 assists.

It was a fairly tight battle at the end of the first quarter with the 36ers trailing by just a whisker, 18-19, before the Kings slowly built a double-digit lead in the middle periods and entered the final salvo up 64-51.

Daniel Johnson once again led the way for Adelaide with 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists, while Harris chipped in 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals.

Todd Withers added 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks in the loss as the 36ers dropped to ninth place, with the Cairns Taipans climbing to eighth with an 8-15 card. – Rappler.com