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Sydney’s club-record NBL losing streak shows no signs of slowing down after the Kings were beaten 82-73 by Melbourne at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on Thursday.
Tigers guards Eric Devendorf and Corey Williams proved the difference, finishing with 23 and 22 points respectively, while Luke Nevill had 15 points and 15 boards as Melbourne picked up just their third win of the year.
Ben Madgen had 17 points for a Sydney side that slumped to its 11th straight defeat, with a sorry 1-11 record that is likely to get worse.
The Kings have games coming up against defending champions Perth and third-placed Cairns next up.
While Wollongong (9-4 record) fell to a 72-70 home loss to the Gold Coast (5-7) that gave New Zealand (10-2) breathing room atop the ladder, Sydney and Melbourne were battling to avoid the wooden spoon.
The last time the great rivals met at the Kingdome was in March 2008, when the Tigers walked away with the championship in game five of the NBL finals.
But the league’s standard-bearers throughout the past decade, sharing five titles between them, have since slipped all the way to the NBL’s basement.
The Kings were at least playing the only team they had beaten this season, way back in round one, and brought some confidence from two competitive matches on the road in Adelaide and Perth last weekend.
They also enjoyed some boisterous support two days before Christmas, but the 3875 fans were quickly silenced as the Tigers scored 10 unanswered points to start the game.
The home side were an absolute rabble early on as Melbourne cantered to a 23-13 quarter-time edge.
Sydney were more competitive in the second quarter, but couldn’t stop Williams or Devendorf, who had 32 points between them at halftime.
It was hard to believe the Kings were still in touch after such a lopsided half, trailing 49-41. Six straight points to start the third made it a two-point game.
But again it was Williams and Devendorf who stepped up, carrying Melbourne to a 63-51 lead at the last change that was enough to get them home.
Kings coach Ian Robilliard, a former Sydney player, was a shattered man as the long losing streak continued.
“It kills me. I do understand what it’s like playing in that arena and wearing that singlet and I don’t have an answer for it,” he said.
“Close enough is not good enough.
“Maybe I’m the problem, I’m not sure, but something’s got to change.
“We know we can compete with them, it’s just a matter of matching their intensity.”
It was a different story for Tigers counterpart Al Westover, who feels his side can still get into finals calculations.
“We knew they were going to come out battling, they’re as desperate as we were,” he said.
“I’m happy with the way the guys played the game and it’s nice to get a win.”
In the night’s other match, Townsville stayed in touch with the top four with a 99-97 victory over Adelaide.
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