Sydney Kings score win in Cairns

The Cairns Taipans threatened to cause the upset of the NBL season on Monday night at home to the Sydney Kings. But, in the end, it was the experience of Kevin Lisch and Jerome Randle that secured the victory for Sydney.

Alex Loughton of the Cairns Taipans drives to the basket during the Round 12 NBL match between the Cairns Taipan and the Sydney Kings at the Cairns Convention Centre in Cairns, Monday, January 7, 2019. (AAP Image/Dave Acree)

The bottom of the ladder Cairns Taipans threatened to cause the upset of the season on Monday night at home to the first-placed Sydney Kings.

Buoyed by their breakthrough victory on Thursday night that ended their 14-game losing skid, the lowly Snakes stuck with the Kings for much of the fourth term but could not find the much-needed killer blow down the stretch.

In a round of NBL basketball that has seen upset after upset, the Snakes followed the theme of the round for long periods but could not break down the Kings when it mattered most.

Point guard Melo Trimble (22 points) provided clutch buckets but it was the experience in the two guard slots of their opposition that killed Cairns’ chances.

A Trimble lay-up with just over two minutes to play gave Cairns the lead but from then on, the Kings flicked the switch.

A Kevin Lisch bomb at the end of the shot clock, soon after Trimble’s bucket, was followed by a Jerome Randle jumper that iced the game for the Kings.

Randle eventually sealed the game at the charity stripe, claiming a 86-82 victory.

Not even a rare Mike Kelly verbal spray late in the second stanza could fire up Cairns enough against the soon-to-be NBL championship contenders.

CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA — JANUARY 07: Romelo Trimble of the Taipans breaks through the defence during the round 12 NBL match between the Cairns Taipans and the Sydney Kings at Cairns Convention Centre on January 07, 2019 in Cairns, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Earlier in the night, much of the positivity that flowed on from Thursday’s breakthrough victory was sucked out of the building in the opening term as the Kings snuck out to a double-figure lead.

It was quickly restored as a 15-4 run to start the second quarter brought the game back to level terms.

The offence ran through centre Nate Jawai in the first half and he made the most of it, handing out four assists, as he threw down a couple of big dunks to fire up the fans also.

Jawai finished with seven assists in an excellent performance.

The Andrew Bogut influence was easy to see as when he was on the floor, the Kings dominated and when he rested, the Snakes snuck back into the contest.

A first half double-double from the former NBA top draft pick gave his side an eight-point advantage at the long break.

Bogut dominated the opening two terms as Randle bided his time and took over in the third as he had a direct hand in the Kings’ first six buckets.

Bogut finished with 17 boards as he controlled the painted area.

The Taipans now head across the country to face Perth on Friday evening.

Originally published as Sydney Kings score win in Cairns