Superstar guard Kendric Davis was the night’s standout, scoring 26 points and handing out six assists as the Kings surged ahead after a modest 14‑8 start by the Taipans.
Cairns’ lone bright spot was import forward Keanu Pinder, who returned to the league and posted 27 points on 65 % shooting, but his effort was not enough to stem the Kings’ tide.
The Kings built a 32‑26 lead at the end of the first quarter and extended it to 59‑53 at halftime, with new import centre Andrew Carr contributing efficiently on the boards and in the paint.
A flurry of three‑point shooting in the third quarter – including scores from Matthew Dellavedova, Makuach Maluach and rookie Will Johnston – sparked a 13‑2 run that pushed the margin to 90‑73 entering the final period.
Sydney’s defense clamped down on Cairns’ scoring machine Jack McVeigh, limiting him to just seven points, a factor the Kings cited as pivotal to the 21‑point win.
The victory marks the first win of the season for the reigning premiers and sets a confident tone for their title defence, while the Taipans, who were among last season’s stragglers, will look to regroup after the heavy loss.