'One of the best defensive performances I've seen': Rucker

The Sydney Kings made a statement on Sunday by blowing reigning champions Illawarra off their own court.

While the Kings put up 98 points to secure their fourth straight win, the Round 9 victory over their NSW rivals was set up by their defence.

That display on the defensive end did not go unnoticed, with 1990 NBL MVP Derek Rucker calling it one of the best defensive performances he has seen during Monday's episode of Moments That Mattered, presented by Mitsubishi Motors.

"If you go back a month the problem for Sydney was the defensive end of the basketball," Rucker said on Moments That Mattered, presented by Mitsubishi Motors.

"This is an area where Brian Goorjian has traditionally and historically been exceptional, but this team was performing below standard earlier in the season.

"What they did to Illawarra, right from the tip, was one of the most comprehensive defensive performances I've seen in several seasons.

"They dominated the Hawks and totally threw them out of their offensive rhythm.

"Because we're advanced in the season and the Hawks are a hot team, coming into this game full of hope, full of expectations, and with an MVP candidate.

"This was a much better team at this stage of the season than I believe that Adelaide team (which Sydney restricted in Round 4) was.

"Adelaide obviously have the best player in the game [Bryce Cotton], but what the Kings did yesterday, having Bul Kuol pressure Davo Hickey the moment he touched the ball, set the tempo for the defensive side of the basketball for the duration of the game.

"That was a really good win for the Sydney Kings, the type of win that really builds the confidence of the group from the best player on the team to the last man on the roster."

As much as the NSW derby win was built off the Kings' defence, another key factor was the play of superstar guard Kendric Davis.

The University of Memphis alum put up 17 points, 8 assists and 4 rebounds in his first game of the campaign without backcourt mate Matthew Dellavedova, who was out through an illness.

"This game was a challenge for Kendric on how he was going to handle being the primary ball-handler and initiator of the offence for the duration of the game," Rucker said.

"Kendric's a natural point guard and he's kind of sacrificing what he does so that Matthew Dellavedova, when he's in the lineup, can run the point.

"Yesterday, I thought Kendric's floor game was amazing.

"He was patient with his shots. He started off hot, cooled down a little bit, but when he cooled down, he did not continue to blaze away.

"He made sure that everyone got their touches and then late in the game, he came back and had an impact in scoring the basketball."

The Kings, who now sit in fourth with a 7-5 record, next travel to MyState Bank Arena on Sunday to face the JackJumpers.

The Round 10 fixture tips off at 2.30pm AEDT, live on ESPN and Channel 10.