The Adelaide 36ers have stunned an out-of-sorts Sydney line-up 99-97 in their NBL clash, becoming the first team to defeat the Kings at home this season.

Adelaide is among the league's cellar-dwellers so far in 2006-07, boasting just five wins from 17 games entering the clash with the third-placed Kings.

But Sixers captain Brett Maher, who finished with a game-high 22 points, guided the underdogs to a huge upset that puts serious question marks on Sydney's title aspirations.

Kings import Rodney Elliott hit a three-pointer with 16 seconds left to level the scores at 97-97, but a Willie Farley fast-break lay-up six seconds later gave the Sixers victory.

Sydney guard Luke Kendall had a jumpshot to tie scores at the buzzer, but it rimmed out and the visitors held on.

The Kings have become accustomed to success in recent years, reaching the past four grand finals and winning three championships.

But coach Brian Goorjian's current outfit is clearly off the pace set by current championship front-runners the Melbourne Tigers and Brisbane Bullets.

It doesn't get any easier for Sydney, backing-up against West Sydney on Saturday before facing top-four hopefuls Melbourne, Perth, Cairns and Brisbane to round out 2006.

TAB Sportsbet gave Adelaide little chance of becoming the first team to win on Sydney's home floor this season, listing the visitors at $6.75 to Sydney's $1.08.

But they took it to a disjointed Sydney line-up from the opening tip.

The Sixers took a surprise 19-17 lead into quarter time until new import Ed Scott helped spark the Kings in his second game.

The home team needed a turnaround buzzer-beater from Kendall to take a 44-43 lead after a forgettable first half.

Neither team was able to break away in a see-sawing second half, but the Sixers executed better down the stretch to ensure victory.

Jason Smith was outstanding at both ends of the court for the Kings, hitting 20 points for the night, while fellow Australian team member Mark Worthington added 20 points and 12 rebounds.

But Maher came up with some big shots down the stretch before Farley's heroics at the death sealed the win, leaving Goorjian a disappointed coach after the game.

"Maybe it's change, maybe it's the effect of losing (David) Barlow (to a season-ending knee injury), but our defence isn't the same and we're not really good on the boards," he said.

"Offensively it was possession for possession and they've got more guys that can score.

"It just didn't go. A last shot with six seconds left and we didn't get anything good."

Adelaide coach Phil Smyth felt the rare victory on Sydney's home court could help kick-start the Sixers' season.

"We changed things a little bit in the last couple weeks," he said.

"We've finally got everyone back practising together and ... the last couple weeks it's been coming but we haven't been consistent over four quarters."

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