Basketball On The Internet.

ADELAIDE, once more wearing its throwback 1999 NBL (back-to-back) champion uniforms last night took a big chunk out of current back-to-back champion Sydney Kings' dreams of going one better in 2024 with a convincing home win, Trey Kell and Isaac Humphries again at their best but Sunday Dech also sizzling.

Playing with commitment, purpose and working as a team, the 36ers quickly wrested control, Dejan Vasiljevic keen to make a statement against his former club, Jason Cadee also inserted early as the Sixers ground out a 20-19 lead after one on Kyrin Galloway's late basket.

Dech's insertion provided a major lift as Adelaide blew the match apart in the second period, outscoring the listless visitors 20-8. Yes, the Kings only managed eight points, the signs of a lack of faith in each other already evident.

The further this went though, the worse it became, even if the Kings did "win" the second half 55-53. The body language on the court and on the bench was lamentable and coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah didn't help with his usual frustrating substitution pattern.

To his credit though, he finally chose to open with arguably his best starting group - considering DJ Hogg remains on the injured list - namely Jaylen Adams, Denzel Valentine, Jaylin Galloway, Alex Toohey and Jordan Hunter.

And the start was promising, for a while at least.

Adelaide had its plan figured out and played tougher defensively and together like a team offensively, moving the ball through hands.

Sydney, which last year boasted the "next man up" mentality - remember during the Championship Series when Vasiljevic struggled but Angus Glover stepped up? - in this game adopted the "every man for himself" mentality.

While Abdelfattah pleaded not to got 3-point crazy - they still went 5-of-33, and Glover had 3-of-7 leaving the rest at 2-of-26 - the players need to accept at least part of the blame for this indolent, indifferent insult to the Kings' back-to-back champions.

But enough - and enough IS enough - about the losers.

Adelaide was simply terrific, focused and intent on going to its strengths. Consequently Humphries was a keyway Goliath with 18 points at 54 per cent, 12 rebounds, a steal and three blocks.

Kell struck three 3-pointers at 50 per cent in his game-high 27 points, and also had seven rebounds and five assists.

Trying too hard, Vasiljevic was 1-of-8 from range and 3-of-14 for his 12 points, but his eight assists were important.

So too was Dech's contribution. He had his finest 16 minutes of the season, scoring 13 points at 56 per cent, with four rebounds, an assist and a steal.

Ahead by as many as 22 points, the 36ers again looked great in their back-to-back championship replica uniforms as they forced Sydney into its eighth loss in its past 11 games and fifth loss in its past six.

Kings cross? You bet.

ADELAIDE 36ERS 95 (Kell 27, Humphries 18, Wiley, Dech 13, Vasiljevic 12; Humphries 12 rebs; Vasiljevic 8 assts) d SYDNEY KINGS 82 (Adams 20, Glover 12, Noi 11, Hunter 10; Hunter 9 rebs; Adams 4 assts) at Adelaide Entertainment Centre. Crowd: 9,580