Kings back second with 38-point turnaround

The Cairns Taipans were out of the blocks spectacularly lighting it up for a 24-point first half lead but the Sydney Kings took charge in the second half to go back to second spot with the 106-92 win.

The Kings were blown away early on Sunday against the Cairns Convention Centre against a Taipans team fresh off a home overtime win on Friday night against the Tasmania JackJumpers.

Jack McVeigh was fresh off a 40-point outing, but it was his teammates firing early against a Kings team who needed to make it seven straight wins to replace the South East Melbourne Phoenix once again in second place.

The Taipans hit four triples in as many minutes to lead 20-6 to open the contest and they were up by 17 points at quarter-time.

That advantage would have extended to 26 midway through the second frame too if not for Makuach Maluach hunting down Kody Stattmann to spoil his runaway dunk attempt.

The ball spilled off the rim, though, and Kendric Davis scored five quick points on the next two plays to flip the momentum.

Down by nine at half-time, Sydney had erased the deficit to one point late in the third term.

Lachlan Barker provided a secondary surge for Cairns, draining 4/6 triples to briefly hold off a Kings' charge that felt inevitable.

They eventually did go ahead thanks to a season-best 35-point final quarter, with the Kings' transition offence too much for the Taipans as they improved to 20-9 to sit second with the seven consecutive wins.

Kendric Davis did his MVP push no harm with another standout showing for the Kings with 35 points, seven rebounds and six assists to be +20 in his 37 minutes.

Xavier Cooks was also exceptional with 15 points, seven rebounds and four blocks with Torrey Craig adding 13 points and six boards, Tyler Robertson 12 points and six rebounds, Tim Soares 12 points on 5/7 shooting, and Matthew Dellavedova eight points and seven assists.

Cairns are now 8-21 but two games still clear of the bottom placed Brisbane Bullets with Mojave King finishing with 17 points, nine rebounds and three assists.

Jack McVeigh had another 17 points, five boards, four assists and two blocks, Kyrin Galloway 17 points, five rebounds and two blocks, and Andrew Andrews 12 points and 10 assists after missing Friday's game with a sore ankle.

It was Barker who had the best game of his NBL career with 18 points and three assists on 4/6 three-point shooting.

The Taipans now return to Perth where they only just recently spent a whole week to play the Wildcats on Friday while the Kings head to Melbourne for a crucial battle with the South East Melbourne Phoenix next Sunday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26 – PRIDE ROUND

CAIRNS TAIPANS 92 (Barker 18, Galloway 17, McVeigh 17, King 17)

SYDNEY KINGS 106 (Davis 35, Cooks 15, Craig 13)

BOX SCORE‍