In short:

The Sydney Kings claimed a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series following a 106-93 win over the Adelaide 36ers.

Game three attracted an NBL record crowd of 18,373 spectators.

What's next?

Game four will be played in Adelaide on Wednesday night.

The Sydney Kings are one win away from NBL glory after Kendric Davis inspired a tense 106-93 defeat of the Adelaide 36ers in game three of the championship series.

In front of 18,373 spectators in Sydney, the largest crowd in NBL history, Davis had the better of his series-defining match-up with Bryce Cotton, the player who pipped him for league MVP honours this season.

Davis posted 34 points and 15 assists as the Kings took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series.

He became the first player in NBL history to score 30 points and record 10 assists in a championship series game.

The Sydney crowd booed Cotton with almost every touch on Sunday, and while his trademark passing game yielded 12 assists, he finished with 15 points.

It took until the third minute of the final quarter for Cotton to reach double figures in scoring, and he finished with five turnovers.

By contrast, the Kings had four for the game.

The lead changed 30 times in the first three quarters, with neither side holding a double-digit advantage.

But the Kings opened the fourth term on a 7-0 run, featuring quick three-pointers from Tim Soares (12 points) and sharp-shooting Jaylin Galloway (17 points).

It opened up a 10-point buffer, ensuring the Kings never trailed again.

The record crowd was never more hostile than when Cotton contacted Davis's head as he attempted a three-pointer midway through the final term.

Davis went to the line to stretch the lead to what was then a game-high 15 points, and the Kings looked home.

John Jenkins led scoring for the Sixers with 22 points, his tally including a perfect four from four three-pointers in the first quarter.

The Kings can win their sixth championship, and first since Brian Goorjian returned as coach, with victory in Wednesday night's game four at Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

AAP