While Giddey shone in the spotlight, skipper Daniel Johnson exploded with 13 points in the extra period in a gutsy effort that also keeps their NBL finals hopes alive.

Johnson - and the 36ers' season - looked dead and buried when the visitors fell behind by 16 points midway through the quarter at Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday afternoon.

But Adelaide roared back in the third quarter and forced overtime before Johnson, who shot 2-13 in regular time, took over in the extra period with three long-range bombs.

Johnson finished with a team-high 20 points and eight rebounds, while Giddey also filled up the box score with 11 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds to show why he is rated a top-10 pick in the draft.

Giddey, who earlier this year became the youngest player in league history to record back-to-back triple-doubles, insists he is focused on leading his team in a late-season push for a finals spot.

"I knew they were here but it didn't really impact the way I played or what I was trying to do out there. The stats are cool, but for me it's about wins," Giddey said.

"We've strung three in a row together, so if we can keep that rolling ... we're trying to make a push. I think there's 4-5 teams in that middle pack that are trying to crack the top four."

Adelaide coach Connor Henry said Giddey is playing at an extremely high level.

"His confidence is there. The only time I try and wind him back is when he turns the ball over and he realises the times he has to make a few betters decisions," he said.

"But I have to also let him be him. That's part of his elite skill level."

Former Kings big man Issac Humphries also had 11 rebounds, nine boards and six blocks in the win, which improves their record to 13-16 and well within sight of the top four.

Sydney got 25 points and seven rebounds from import Jarell Martin, star Casper Ware had 17 points and eight assists, while Jordan Hunter had 13 points, nine rebounds and three blocks.

But it was their season-long problems on the defensive glass that came back to haunt them, giving up 20 offensive rebounds that resulted in a decisive 33-8 disadvantage in the second-chance points.

The Kings held a commanding 47-34 lead at halftime off the back of Martin's dominance, and looked like running away with the contest when they went up by 16 points.

But the 36ers stormed back into the contest with a 24-8 run to end the period, including a buzzer-beating bomb from Tony Crocker to level the scores at the final change.

The offence from both teams went up a notch in a heart-stopping fourth that went down to the wire, with Daniel Kickert missing what would've been a game-winning shot on the final play.

"I wanna be upset, but the guys are exhausted," Kings coach Adam Forde said.

Australian Associated Press