Melbourne United gave the league-leading Sydney Kings a surprise on Sunday afternoon, knocking them off on Syndey soil by seven points.
Final score
Sydney Kings 81
Melbourne United 88
It’s a battle of opposite ends as the league-leading Sydney Kings play host to the last-placed Melbourne United looking to extend their advantage at the top. Join The Roar from 3pm (AEDT) for all the live scores, highlights and NBL action.
Andrew Gaze has led the Kings to the top of the standings in his debut coaching season as his side continue to fire off the back of their international stars.
They battled back after trailing at the final break against the Taipans on Friday before blitzing the hapless Cairns defence in the final quarter to steal the win late in the game.
Sydney are trying to stay ahead of a resurgent Adelaide 36ers side who have won their last four in a row.
A couple of wins on the trot have steered them back on the right track after losing three of their previous four and nearly giving up their huge start to the season.
Melbourne haven’t quite had the same fortunes this season but still come into this game with some wind in their sails.
After winning just three of their first ten games, United have fought back, going on a three-match winning streak before losing by just three in a thriller to the Wildcats on Friday.
While still sitting at the wrong end of the table, United have matched the best sides in the league in their last few outings and look to be working their way back up the standings, which in such a close league doesn’t take much form reversal.
This will be their biggest test by far though and can cause a massive upset if they continue to fire in the final quarter.
Melbourne have the advantage from their last meeting, sneaking past the Kings by three points just two weeks ago.
Prediction
It’s hard to look past the Kings on this one especially as the two team stands. They’ve been arguably the team to beat in the NBL this season and that certainly makes the task ahead that much harder for Melbourne.
While United have shown some superb fight in recent times, it’ll be a struggle to keep up with the Kings on the fast break and in the paint.
Kings to win by 12.
Join The Roar for live coverage of this match from 3pm (AEDT).
Connor Bennett
Editor
Connor Bennett
Editor
FULLTIME The final buzzer goes and Melbourne hang on for a massive win against the league leaders Sydney. The second time they've beat them now in a couple of weeks and it's a big blow for Sydney as they try to hang on to top spot. Melbourne dominated and controlled the second half after a tight first stanza. The Kings struggled with execution and simply couldn't shut down the United long-range shooters. Chris Goulding was the best on court and was given far too much time and space, hitting six from beyond the arc and cutting down the Sydney defence at every turn. Gaze will be disappointed with the lack o fight and energy in the second half from his men but they can only move forward from here. Sydney Kings – 81 Melbourne United – 88
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' The fouls continue to flow for the Kings and Melbourne take to the line once again, the third time in about 20 seconds. Powell hits the mid-range jumper for the Kings in the dying seconds but it's muted celebrations and the home crowd know this game is gone for them. Sydney Kings – 81 Melbourne United – 88
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Sydney giving it up now as they foul United once again, gifting Goulding two shots from the line. He makes the first but can't pull off the second as they continue to wind down the clock. Sydney Kings – 78 Melbourne United – 86
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Ware is taken down in the defensive double team inside his own half and it's an easy call on the foul for the refs. He'll take to the line now for two free throws. Sinks the first free throw. And makes the second. The lead it 7 with 36 seconds left. Sydney Kings – 78 Melbourne United – 85
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Inside the last minute now and the Kings might be out of range now. Cadee fouled on his way into the paint looking for the fast transition lay up. He hits two from two at the line. Sydney Kings – 78 Melbourne United – 83
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Chris Goulding fouled for United and he'll take to the line to reestablish that buffer. He misses the first but nails the second. Sydney Kings – 76 Melbourne United – 83
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' A lazy foul for Melbourne and they'll happily take to the free throw line. Moore is the man at the line and he makes just the one... BUT NEWLEY HITS THREE!!! AND THE LAYUP!!! Newley with five points in ten seconds!! Incredible. He hits the fastbreak three, pulling up beyond the arc and sending it home. The Kings play the hard defence and get the quick turnover for Newley to hit the layup and bridge the lead to just six. Sydney Kings – 76 Melbourne United – 82
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Brad Newley making two from two at the line after a timeout. The lead sneaking down to eight points and the Kings are beginning to press hard in defence trying to force those turnovers. Sydney Kings – 71 Melbourne United – 79
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
Kings just can't convert their opportunities and place Melb under pressure...tick tock
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Melbourne slowing the pace of the game down in possession, keeping that clock on their side as they watch it tick down. Sydney trying to transition with plenty of urgency but Ware pulls them up with the intentional foul. Sydney Kings – 69 Melbourne United – 79
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Three and a half minutes left on the clock and Melbourne lead by ten. Sydney Kings – 69 Melbourne United – 79
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Powell to the line for the Kings, trying to slow the game down and keep United down their own end of the court. He makes both free throws and the lead is back down to ten. Sydney Kings – 69 Melbourne United – 79
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' THREE FOR THE KINGS!!! Kevin Lisch has been hitting them from range all day and he continues to bring the heat to United. The Kings need more of theses...but Goulding goes again from range on the fastbreak!!! Everytime the home side are coming back, it's Goulding who shuts them down. Sydney Kings – 67 Melbourne United – 79
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Barlow fouled by Newley coming into the basket and the home fans let out a chorus of boos, they don't like the call and it's more time that their side are slipping away. Barlow hits the first. And makes no mistakes on the second from the line. Sydney Kings – 64 Melbourne United – 76
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' CASPER WARE!!!! He hit that from the stands!! He was a long long way out there but that didn't stop him from taking it on with a defender in his face. Huge plays like that are killing the Kings comeback. Sydney Kings – 64 Melbourne United – 74
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Cadee lays it up running across the baseline and timeout is called. The lead is nine for Melbourne with just over 6 minutes left on the clock. If Sydney can string together a run of buckets then this game will get very interesting towards the end. Sydney Kings – 62 Melbourne United – 71
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Goulding looking for three but misses. Majok gets the rebound as he has been all game and gives it back to Goulding who looks for the same shot... but misses again!! A pair of rare misses from Chris Goulding today. Giving Sydney a lifeline. Sydney Kings – 60 Melbourne United – 71
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' The Kings put up a defensive wall, forcing Melbourne to fall to the clock shot. You don't see that very often. Now Sydney just need to transfer that momentum to the other end of the court. And they do!! Tommy Garlepp hits the bucket under pressure on the left edge!! Is there still some fight in this contest? Sydney Kings – 60 Melbourne United – 71
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Melbourne defending very well shutting down the movement in the paint. Newley tries to muscle his way through in under the rim and he's fouled on his way to the basket. He'll head to the line for two. Misses the first shot off the rim... but sinks the second. Sydney Kings – 58 Melbourne United – 71