Melbourne United suffers shock loss to bottom-placed Sydney Kings

THE hole Melbourne United has fallen into grew larger with a horror home loss to bottom-placed Sydney Kings compounding the club’s poor run of form.

NBL.Melbourne United v Sydney Kings at Hisense Arena in Melbourne.Melbourne shooting guard Chris Goulding is blocked by Sydney Kings forward Tom Garlepp.Picture:Ian Currie

THE hole Melbourne United has fallen into grew larger on Wednesday night with a horror home loss to bottom-placed Sydney Kings.

Melbourne dished up horrid first and final quarters to slump to its sixth loss in its past eight NBL games with a shock 96-81 defeat at Hisense Arena.

It was without big man Daniel Kickert (lower back) in what was a big blow, but what hurt more was when the shots dried up in the final term when the game was on the line.

After a perfect 9-0 start to the season, United now possess an 11-6 win-loss record with a tough road stretch to come in the new year.

“It was a basketball game that they took, basically,” United coach Dean Demopoulos said.

“We had our chances after a terrible start, which didn’t help.

“We got back into it and then didn’t make too many shots or defend well.

“But we did some things that were positive and we need to build on them.

“They had lost a bunch in a row so they deserved to win.”

Chris Patton is swarmed on by Kings players. Picture: Ian Currie

Import Hakim Warrick was Melbourne’s best with 13 points and eight boards.

Sydney point Jason Cadee always seems to torch Melbourne and it was again the case last night, scoring 28 points in another deadly shooting display.

Kings skipper Tom Garlepp was massive in his 200th NBL game with 22 points and seven boards.

It was Garlepp who got the Kings going early with 11 points in the first three minutes.

A shell-shocked United hit just one from nine three-pointers to find itself down by 17 points at quarter-time.

Dion Prewster successfully drives to the ring.

Melbourne rallied in the second quarter with a vengeance with guard Chris Goulding and Todd Blanchfield leading the charge.

Both players went scoreless in the first term, but at halftime they had 16 points and 10 points respectively.

It was a massive turnaround with a 39-point quarter giving United a two-point lead at halftime.

After getting on top, Melbourne began to tighten up late in the third term and its shots dried up.

With Cadee on fire, the Kings hit back to lead by four points at three quarter-time.

It continued its run in the final term to score a big win with Melbourne repeatedly unable to find the basket despite a flurry of open looks.

United’s next game is against the 36ers in Adelaide next Wednesday night.

It was announced last night the next home game at Hisense Arena on December 27 against Perth will be an open air game, weather permitting.

Originally published as Melbourne United suffers shock loss to bottom-placed Sydney Kings