Played toe-to-toe and basket for basket all the way to the final siren, the lead changed 11 times.
With just over three minutes to go, Sydney went to the front thanks to a massive triple by Brad Newley, who finished the game with 14 points, six rebounds and two assists.
Unfortunately for the Kings, three pointers from Taipans Kouat Noi and Scott Machado’ gave the lead back to Cairns before Jordan Hunter – who put in a tremendous game, finishing with nine points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots – got inside for the deuce to make it 86-85.
Cam Oliver made a pair of free throws but with just under two minutes left, neither team could find the basket again.
In the dying seconds of the game, Kings star Casper Ware tried for a three-point shot at the buzzer to win the game but it bounced off the rim, and the Taipans took the points by the narrowest of margins.
Ware led the scoring for the Kings, finishing with an outstanding 18 points, two rebounds and two assists, while Dejan Vasiljevic was also a stand out in his NBL debut, leaving the court with 15 points and four rebounds and import Jarell Martin managed 11 points and eight rebounds in his first run.
