Comeback Kings lose heartbreakers to United

The Sydney Kings’ comeback, during Brian Goorjian's 850th NBL game, has fallen short against Melbourne United on Thursday night, losing 90-88 in front of 10,328 fans at Qudos Bank Arena. 

Match summary 

United’s Chris Goulding opened the game with a triple, which sparked the visitors to a 7-2 start despite a crafty left-hand lay-in by Alex Toohey. That grew to 19-6 on the back of Shae Ili’s play on both ends of the court, as well as buckets by Jack White and Marcus Lee. Xavier Cooks did all he could to close the margin, with his constant attack on the ring – as did Sixth Man of the Year front-runner Kouat Noi. At the end of one quarter, the visitors led 32-16. 

Back-to-back triples by Noi, followed by a Jaylen Adams and-one and Alex Toohey triple closed it to 38-28. Despite scores by Makuach Maluach, Adams and Cam Oliver, the lead grew in United’s favour. But the Hoops Capital side didn’t go away, with Adams, Shaun Bruce and Noi getting their names on the scoresheet. But a late flurry by Melbourne’s Rob Loe ensured his side led by 16 at the main break. 

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Cooks’ deft finish got the harbour city side started before Maluach, starting the second half alongside Noi, nailed a triple. Add in a tough Bul Kuol finish and Sydney were producing on the offensive end but so were the visitors, capped by a big Ili to White alley-oop. After Ili added yet another score, their lead was 20 midway through the third. Quickfire scores by Toohey, Cooks and Izayah Le’afa closed the deficit to 10 in short order. That quickly became six after Toohey converted an and-one. A lay-in by Cooks, following a Toohey dime, as time expired made it 70-64 at the final change. 

An 8-2 start by United, featuring plenty of dunks, forced Brian Goorjian to call a time-out. Sydney settled with a pair of Cooks free-throws and a Brucey jumper but Matthew Dellavedova kept United’s lead in double digits. Noi’s aggression, followed by lay-ins by Le’afa and Bruce made it 86-77 with 3.53 to play. Cooks’ finish closed it to seven but Sydney failed to cash in on that momentum until the final minute, when Kuol hit a three and Noi added just as many shots from the charity stripe – making it 88-85. With 5.2 seconds left,  Le’afa held his nerve and added a three to tie it up. In the final seconds, Dellavedova hit White on a back-door cut to seal the win. 

Where the match was decided 

Melbourne’s win was set up statistical victories in assists (23-16)-16), steals (13-6), points off turnovers (20-13) and fast-break points (27-9) - while committing less turnovers 15-10. 

Key moment 

Despite a 14-0 by the Kings in the third quarter, a 32-16 first quarter proved too big of a hole for the hosts to overcome. 

Players of the game 

The two standouts for the Hoops Capital side were Cooks (21 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and two blocks) and Noi (19 points, nine boards, three triples and one dime). 

What’s next 

Goorjian’s team, who are now 13-10, stay in Sydney for another Qudos Bank Arena clash, this time against Cairns on Sunday, January 12 from 4.15pm AEDT 

Tickets to the round 16 clash are still available here.