Sydney's 110–99 win over South East Melbourne on Sunday was a reminder that a hot start doesn't count for much if the other side can take away the shots that created it. The Phoenix raced to a remarkable 30–9 lead, hitting seven three-pointers in the opening five minutes. By the final buzzer, the Kings had reclaimed top spot and turned an apparent ambush into an 11-point victory.
The decisive shift came long before the closing minutes. Sydney outscored South East Melbourne 45–21 over the remainder of the first half, recovering to lead 54–51 at the main break. The Phoenix managed just 13 second-quarter points on 4-of-16 shooting, including 1-of-9 from beyond the arc. That contrast tells the story: an explosive opening gave way to a stretch in which Sydney dictated the quality of possessions.
Kendric Davis finished with 28 points and nine assists, including 14 points in the third quarter as Sydney pushed its advantage to 83–70. Torrey Craig supplied 23 points, five rebounds and three blocks, while Xavier Cooks contributed 15 points, 14 boards and two blocks. It wasn't simply a one-man rescue act. The Kings found scoring, rebounding and defensive interventions across the line-up when the game threatened to run away from them.
Nathan Sobey did everything he could to keep the Phoenix in it. His 33 points included six triples from 11 attempts, and he dragged the margin back to four with five minutes remaining. Sydney's response was immediate: the next eight points, capped by a Makuach Maluach dunk, shut down the comeback. Sobey's individual shot-making was outstanding; the Kings' ability to answer it was the difference.
For the Phoenix, the concern isn't that they couldn't sustain seven threes in five minutes. Nobody should build an offence around that pace. It's how quickly their half-court scoring stalled once Sydney adjusted. Yannis Morin's 12 points and 12 rebounds offered an inside contribution, but the second-quarter drought and the inability to complete the fourth-quarter rally left South East Melbourne at 4–7.
Sydney improved to 8–3 and returned to first place. The NBL's match report details the extraordinary opening and the Kings' recovery, while the Kings' official schedule confirms a trip to Cairns on Friday 13 November. South East Melbourne faces Illawarra on Wednesday. Those next fixtures give both sides an immediate test: Sydney must reproduce its defensive control without spotting an opponent 21 points, and the Phoenix need reliable scoring between the spectacular bursts.
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