Melbourne United have blown the chance to make club history, with their nine-match winning streak to start the season ended by the Sydney Kings in a thriller.
The last NBL team to win 10 straight were the Kings, back in 2003-04 on their way to their championship, and the Sydneysiders kept that record alive in a win led by skipper Matthew Dellavedova and Kendric Davis.
In front of a sell-out crowd at John Cain Arena on the eve of the Melbourne Cup public holiday, United were off their game from the opening whistle with the Kings taking full advantage for a 95-92 victory.
Kendric Davis produced an epic performance against United.
Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images
Jesse Edwards had the chance to put United ahead with 15 seconds left but the centre missed two free throws.
Davis then made no mistake with his own free throw to make it a three-point game with 2.7 seconds left, and the home side were unable to level.
Ex-United star Dellavedova seemed to relish the jeers from his former home crowd, dropping four three-pointers, while American guard Davis terrorised the United defence, leading the scoring with 34 points including four three-pointers.
Sydney led after every quarter, with the margin blowing out to 12 midway through the third term after an 11-0 run, but the home side stormed back in the final period.
Tyson Walker levelled the score at 85-85 with 4.38 minutes left, then gave his team the lead seconds later.
But the Kings, who had a big win over Brisbane in their last match, regrouped.
Despite losing Xavier Cookes and Dellavedova to foul trouble in the closing stages, Sydney weren’t to be denied.
Walker top-scored for United with 22 points while captain Chris Goulding was uncharacteristically quiet, only contributing 10.
