Kings stay hot by dominating Snakes

There were no Jack McVeigh heroics for the Cairns Taipans in game 201 with the Sydney Kings getting a strong contribution across the board to continue their hot form with an emphatic 119-77 win at Qudos Bank Arena.

The Kings led by five at quarter-time on Sunday before streaking clear, all 12 players scoring and none playing more than 24 minutes in a ruthless and selfless display.

Sydney were back at Qudos Bank Arena full of confidence after wins over the Perth Wildcats, Melbourne United and Adelaide 36ers, and took full advantage of a Taipans team who couldn’t repeat their heroics from Friday night.

Fresh off a career best 47-point game in the win in Cairns over the New Zealand Breakers, McVeigh was visibly agitated as he finished with 11 points on 5/6 shooting.

That was with Sydney without their renowned defensive stopper Bul Kuol as well but it was the even contribution across the board that stood out for the Kings with nine players scoring at least eight points in the 42-point demolition.

Kendric Davis only took eight shots and made four, but was aggressive getting to the basket and went 11/12 at the foul line for 21 points and nine assists.

He had plenty of help too with Xavier Cooks finishing with 14 points and six rebounds with Tyler Robertson going 3/6 from downtown for 14 points and three assists with Makuach Maluach adding 13 points and four rebounds.

Tim Soares also had 11 points, three rebounds and two blocks, Shaun Bruce 10 points and two assists, Kouat Noi nine points and five boards, Jaylin Galloway nine points and five assists, and Lueth Awan eight points in six minutes.

That was also with a hobbled Matthew Dellavedova playing just 12 minutes while rookie Awan rubbed salt into the wound with two triples and a runaway dunk in his six-minute cameo.

It was the Kings' fourth-straight win and eighth from their last 10 games to improve them to 11-7 this season.

The Kings' swarming defence left the Taipans second-guessing, none more than forward Sam Waardenburg who contributed five of Cairns' 15 turnovers.

McVeigh getting just six shot attempts wasn’t ideal for the Snakes with him coming off his 47-point effort less than 48 hours earlier with Kody Stattmann finishing with 14 points while Andrew Andrews had 14 points and nine assists but his frustrations again were on show.

The loss means the Taipans slip back to the bottom of the NBL standings at 5-14 following an afternoon where they shot just 44 per cent while losing the rebound battle by 14 along with the 15 turnovers to end up attempting 11 fewer shots and 10 less free throws than Sydney.

The Taipans now have the challenge of taking on the league-leading Adelaide 36ers on the road on Christmas Eve and then on Christmas night, it will be the Kings back at Qudos Bank Arena against the Illawarra Hawks.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26

SYDNEY KINGS 119 (Davis 21, Robertson 14, Cooks 14)

CAIRNS TAIPANS 77 (Stattmann 14, Andrews 14, McVeigh 11)

BOX SCORE ‍