The Sydney Kings kicked off their NBL title defence on Sunday with a dominant 111‑90 victory over the Cairns Taipans at the Afterpay Arena, propelled by 26 points and six assists from grand‑final MVP Kendric Davis.
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.