The Sydney Kings have announced their intentions as reigning NBL champions in emphatic fashion, dismantling the Cairns Taipans 111-90 at Afterpay Arena on Sunday to begin their title defence with a comprehensive victory.
Grand final MVP and superstar guard Kendric Davis led the charge with 26 points and six assists, picking up where he left off last season, while skipper Xavier Cooks contributed 18 points in a dominant team performance that saw seven Kings players finish in double figures.
Kings Find Their Rhythm After Slow Start
It was far from a perfect opening for Sydney. Cairns — one of last season's cellar-dwellers — came out firing, ambushing the reigning champions with a 14-8 start that threatened an early upset. The Kings, however, steadied quickly and began to impose their class on the contest.
Sydney moved ahead 32-26 at the first break, with Davis growing in influence alongside new import centre Andrew Carr, who provided efficient contributions in the paint. The lead held at 59-53 at half-time before Cairns trimmed it to just four points at 69-65, briefly threatening a comeback.
That proved to be as close as the Taipans would get. Davis, Matthew Dellavedova, Makuach Maluach and debutant Will Johnston all caught fire from the perimeter as Sydney surged through a decisive 13-2 run, extending the lead to 90-73 heading into the final quarter. From there, Davis, Cooks and Torrey Craig kept the foot on the accelerator to blow the margin past 20 points.
Pinder Shines for Cairns, But McVeigh Silenced
For Cairns, Keanu Pinder was a genuine bright spot in his return to the competition, posting 27 points at 65 per cent shooting to stand head and shoulders above his teammates. However, the Taipans' inability to get prolific scorer Jack McVeigh going proved costly — the sharpshooting guard was held to just seven points, a major factor in Cairns' inability to sustain their early pressure. With Shaun Bruce fighting a lone battle in the second half, the visitors ultimately had no answer for the Kings' depth and firepower.
Breakers Also Impress in Season Opener
In the other game played on Sunday, the New Zealand Breakers made an equally strong statement, defeating the Illawarra Hawks 95-81 at Auckland's Spark Arena. The Breakers, tipped as one of the competition's most improved sides, were rarely troubled throughout.
Sam Mennenga dominated the paint with 27 points and eight rebounds, while off-season recruit Dejan Vasiljevic dazzled from long range, draining six of ten three-point attempts on his way to 24 points. Captain Parker Jackson-Cartwright rounded out a formidable trio with 23 points and 13 assists, underlining New Zealand's credentials as genuine contenders this season.
Both the Kings and Breakers will look to carry their opening-round momentum into the weeks ahead as the NBL season builds toward what promises to be a fiercely competitive campaign.
