3 minute read
The Sydney Kings have responded to a Friday night loss with an emphatic 99-73 home victory over the Cairns Taipans on <i>Sunday</i>.
Xavier Cooks was clearly feeling better, Shaun Bruce had a career shooting performance and the Sydney Kings hit back impressively in the battle of Friday's NBL losers with the 99-73 victory over the Cairns Taipans.
Bruce scored five three-pointers in the first half and Cooks was back to his best after illness last week in nabbing 18 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals as Sydney regained winning form before 11,076 people at Qudos Bank Arena.
It was familiar territory for the Kings to make 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 off a home loss to Perth on Friday and without emerging point guard Taran Armstrong (ankle) and import centre Tanner Groves (calf).
Sydney were able to take full advantage early, scoring the first 12 points before ending up leading by 14, and by 10 at quarter-time.
Cairns fired back impressively to start the second quarter, including three balls to Pedro Bradshaw (16 points) and Rob Edwards (five points, 2-of-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 the second term for 18 first half points to help Sydney to the 53-39 half-time edge.
Sydney took their advantage out to 19 by three quarter-time, and unlike when they conceded the last 16 points to Brisbane last week, they finished the job this time for the eventual 26-point win.
Bruce ended 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 said he hoped his team took lessons from the heavy loss, while accepting they weren'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."