Melbourne Tigers survived a fierce final quarter comeback to take a 2-1 lead in the NBL grand final series with an 89-87 victory at the Sydney Entertainment Centre.

The Tigers watched a 78-66 three-quarter-time lead disappear in the last quarter and trailed by four points with just under four minutes to go.

However, they outscored Sydney 7-1 in the remainder of the game and can win their second title in three seasons by taking game four in Melbourne on Wednesday.

Import forward Sean Lampley won the game with 12 seconds remaining when he hit a three-pointer to turn an 86-87 deficit into an 89-87 victory.

Captain and centre Chris Anstey tallied 27 points and 15 rebounds for the Tigers.

The Kings looked dead and buried when they trailed by 12 at the last break, however they cranked up their defence and the Tigers couldn't buy a basket and it took them six-and-a-half minutes to register their first point of the term.

By that time, Sydney had reeled off 14 straight points taking an 80-78 lead with a Luke Kendall three-pointer.

Anstey stepped up in the first quarter scoring 10 points in that period.

Melbourne led 29-24 at quarter time and 51-48 at the main break.

Anstey apart, Melbourne's scoring was heading by former Kings player David Barlow, who finished with 16 points, Dave Thomas 14 and Lampley 12.

Forward Mark Worthington top scored for Sydney with 22, followed by centre Ian Crosswhite 18 and guard and captain Jason Smith 16.

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