Adelaide toppled the league-leading Sydney Kings 102-94 in a classic and, at times, spiteful NBL match at the Distinctive Homes Dome.

The Sixers led all night and survived a dramatic final-quarter comeback by the Kings, sparked by a technical foul on Sydney coach Brian Goorjian.

The game was a clash of contrasting styles with the free-flowing Sixers matching up against the physical, bash and crash Kings.

Brett Maher (25) and Willie Farley (27) were on fire from long range in the first quarter, the star duo combining for 19 points to give Adelaide a commanding 32-24 quarter-time lead.

Scoring dried up for both sides in the second period as Sydney's foul count mounted and Adelaide struggled to penetrate the Kings' zone defence.

Sydney squandered opportunities and constant fouling allowed Adelaide to retain a 54-45 halftime lead.

The Kings found some form after the main the break as Brad Sheridan (19) hurt Adelaide from outside to bring Sydney within three points.

Phil Smyth called consecutive time-outs and a string of Farley brilliance late in the quarter gave Adelaide a 74-62 lead heading into the final stanza.

The game looked all but over with Adelaide leading by as many as 15 until a fiery outburst from Goorjian with nine minutes to play.

He copped a technical foul that sparked an unlikely Kings' comeback.

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