Kings respond royally against Taipans

Xavier Cooks was clearly feeling better, Shaun Bruce had a career shooting performance and the Sydney Kings hit back impressively in the battle of NBL losers to start Round 4 with the 99-73 victory over the Cairns Taipans.

Bruce knocked down five three-pointers in the first half and Cooks was back to his best for 18 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals after being unwell last week as the Kings returned to the winning list in style in front of 11,076 people at Qudos Bank Arena.

It was familiar territory for the Kings to get off to a flying start looking to hit back from a loss in Adelaide on Friday even without former MVP Jaylen Adams (back).

The Snakes also arrived coming off a home loss to Perth on Thursday and without emerging point guard Taran Armstrong (ankle) and import centre Tanner Groves (calf).

The Kings were able to take full advantage early scoring the first 12 points before ending up leading by 14, and by 10 still at quarter-time.

The Snakes fired back impressively to start the second quarter including three balls to Pedro Bradshaw (16 points) and Rob Edwards (five points, 2/12 shooting), but then it was time for Bruce to take over.

The two-time championship winning 324-game veteran guard knocked down five three-pointers for the half including four in that second term for 18 first half points to help Sydney to the 53-39 half-time edge.

The Kings continued to extend their advantage out to 19 by three quarter-time and unlike conceding the last 16 points to Brisbane last week, they finished the job this time for the eventual 26-point win.

Bruce finished with 21 points and four assists while making all six three-point attempts with Next Star Alex Toohey contributing 15 points and six rebounds, Keli Leaupepe 10 points and 10 boards, and Tyler Robertson 10 points, three rebounds and three assists in his first start.

Kings coach Brian Goorjian not only liked what his team did, but how the youth of Toohey, Leaupepe and Robertson especially stood up.

"It's the best game we've played together as a team and we did what we've been talking about on both sides of the ball," he said.

"What we're doing as well if you look at our team is that we're planting the seeds to let our fans know that this is what you have to look forward to, not only this year but down the road."

It was almost a lone hand from the Taipans for Sam Waardenburg who finished with 22 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks.

Snakes coach Adam Forde hopes it's a lesson his team learns from while being realistic they aren’t in the same position to cover injured players as other teams.

"If you are going to take anything from this, this is probably the smack in the mouth that we needed," he said.

"As much as the message has been with the guys that we just have to continue with the process, we run a different race from everybody else where we're not in a position to go and get someone like Montrezl Harrell."

Sydney has been a hot starting team so far this season and that continued on Sunday at Qudos Bank Arena as they raced out to a 12-0 opening including a three ball to Xavier Cooks.

Cairns did steady including three balls to Dillon Stith, Kyrin Galloway and Kyle Adnam, but it was triples in response from Shaun Bruce and Izayah Le'afa that helped the home team to the 28-18 lead after one.

The Taipans were able to go on an 11-2 run early in the second frame with three-pointers from Pedro Bradshaw, Rob Edwards and Sam Waardenburg, but the Kings took charge for the rest of the half and it was all on the back of the three-point shooting of Bruce.

He knocked down four more of them in the last five minutes of the half to go into the break with 18 points himself with the Kings leading by 14 with Cooks also outstanding with 10 points, eight rebounds and four assists.

Sydney continued to have all the answers through the third quarter including a career-best triple to Bruce and then Cam Oliver not only hitting a three, but then throwing down a huge alley-oop slam on the pass from Bruce.

The Kings extended their lead to 19 by three quarter-time before Cooks helped the home team to the first five points of the fourth frame. That turned into a 10-0 run with Sydney leading by as much as 30 and eventually scoring the 26-point victory.

The Kings now head to Launceston to play the Tasmania JackJumpers on Friday night while the Taipans are back home to take on the hot Illawarra Hawks.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2024/25

SYDNEY KINGS 99 (Bruce 21, Cooks 18, Toohey 15)

CAIRNS TAIPANS 73 (Waardenburg 22, Bradshaw 16, Adnam 8, Gak 8)

BOX SCORE