Kings snap United run on Cup eve

The Sydney Kings have sent a message that they can't be forgotten in the NBL26 title race with Kendric Davis delivering 34 points as they handed Melbourne United a first loss of the season with the 95-92 road win.

Thanks to the strong showing from Sydney at John Cain Arena on Melbourne Cup eve, Melbourne missed the chance to make club history, with their nine-match winning streak snapped.

The last NBL team to win 10 straight to start a season were the Kings, back in NBL04 on their way to their championship with Brian Goorjian at the helm, and he was again the mastermind of Monday's win.

Sydney kept that record alive in a win led by skipper Matthew Dellavedova and Davis.

Dellavedova did receive somewhat of a hostile welcome back to his home state after going so close to leading United to the championship last season, but he had the last laugh.

He finished with 12 points and seven assists while hitting 4/7 from deep despite coming into the game shooting 12 per cent from behind the arc.

It was Davis who was the match-winner, though, with last season's runner-up MVP producing 34 points, five rebounds and three assists on 13/25 field goal shooting and 4/8 from three.

In front of a sell-out crowd, United were off their game from the opening whistle with the Kings taking full advantage for a 95-92 victory.

Jesse Edwards had the chance to put United ahead with 15 seconds left but the centre missed two free throws.

Davis then made no mistake with his own free throw to make it a three-point game with 2.7 seconds left, and the home side were unable to level.

Sydney led after every quarter, with the margin blowing out to 12 midway through the third term after an 11-0 run, but the home side stormed back in the final period.

Tyson Walker levelled the score at 85-85 with 4.38 minutes left, then gave his team the lead seconds later.

But the Kings, who had a big win over Brisbane in their last match, regrouped.

Despite losing Xavier Cooks and Dellavedova to foul trouble in the closing stages, Sydney weren't to be denied.

Bul Kuol did a strong defensive job on Chris Goulding (10 points, 1/5 shooting) while having 17 points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists for Sydney with Cooks putting together a second strong showing in 48 hours with 14 points, seven boards and four assists.

Melbourne are now 9-1 on the season with Walker top-scoring with 22 points with nine rebounds and five assists on 9/11 shooting with Milton Doyle adding 19 points, four boards and three assists, and Finn Delany 14 points and four rebounds.

United will now back up on Wednesday night in a Championship Series rematch in Wollongong against the Illawarra Hawks before returning home for a tantalising Throwdown on Saturday with the South East Melbourne Phoenix.

The Kings don't play until hosting the New Zealand Breakers on Sunday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26

MELBOURNE UNITED 92 (Walker 22, Doyle 19, Delany 14)

SYDNEY KINGS 95 (Davis 34, Kuol 17, Cooks 14)

BOX SCORE