The Sydney Kings held off a late charge from the Adelaide 36ers to post a 112-100 NBL win at the Distinctive Homes Dome.

The Kings led by 30 points early in the second half before the spirited 36ers launched a fightback to pull within six points deep into the final term.

Glen Saville was brilliant for the Kings with 20 points, while Jason Smith and Dontaye Draper fired 17 each.

Adelaide's Adam Ballinger recovered from a slow start to score 20 points, Brad Davidson notched 19 and Brett Maher in his comeback game finished on 16.

During a physical opening term the Kings withstood some early 36ers offensive assaults, before steadying to take a 24-18 lead into the first break.

In the second period the busy Saville ignited a rare exhibition of three point shooting as the Kings powered away to a decisive 56-32 advantage at halftime.

Early in the third Saville and Smith extended the Kings' break to 30 points then Maher, Davidson and Ballinger sparked the 36ers revival to make it 85-69 going into the final period.

In the final term the Kings' shooting form deserted them and with the crowd roaring the 36ers sensed an upset, only to fall short as the visitors held their nerve.

36ers coach Phil Smyth said poor shooting in the first half contributed to their demise.

"I thought our game plan in the first quarter unsettled them," he said.

"We gave ourselves plenty of opportunities, we just didn't make our shots.

"The intensity was great, I thought our guys could have capitulated into a 40-point game the way they were shooting and playing, and our guys got themselves right back in the game.

"We at least gave ourselves a chance."

Smyth said he was encouraged with the fightback.

"I guess now we want to see that next week against Singapore that endeavour continues for more than a half.

"I thought to comeback on a team like that with two losses sitting on top of the ladder and the way we came back at them aggressively was pretty positive."

Kings coach Brian Goorjian said while he was pleased with another win, the side needed to learn how to play with a big lead.

"We're not on the same page as how you play with a lead," he said.

"This has been pretty consistent for us over the last five or six weeks.

"Tonight was fairly typical.

"You give them credit but there's a certain style you play with a lead and we're not doing a real good job of that aspect."

"We talked about it today after the game.

"Everyone's got to agree on what we want."

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