Kouat Noi (starting for the injured Jaylin Galloway) scored the Kings’ first four points – including two within the first four seconds. Cairns rattled off the next 10 points before Jaylen Adams ended the visitors’ drought.
This was short-lived, however, as the host led 22-12 with just under two minutes to play.
The harbour city side fell behind by more (11) at the start of the second but powered back to a scoreline of 54-52.
Solid contributions by Shaun Bruce and DJ Hogg off the bench steered the Kings to their first lead since the opening term (61-60).
Tough baskets by Adams and Hogg made it a two-possession game with four minutes to play. Down the stretch, the Kings had chances to close the gap but missed shots and turnovers hindered any chance of that as Cairns won by seven points.
In his first start of NBL24, Noi top scored for the purple and gold with 18 points, to go along with three rebounds and two steals.
Other to score in double figures for Sydney were Adams and Hogg (both 13 points) and Bolden (11).
Abdelfattah’s side, who are now 4-3, head to the WIN Entertainment Centre on Friday, November 3, to face the Illawarra Hawks from 7.30pm.
The Kings’ next home game is on Sunday, November 5 from 3.45pm against New Zealand – which will not only mark a grand final replay from last season but also represent the club’s annual Indigenous Round.
Kings unable to hold court again
UNABLE to pull out any aces, the Sydney Kings dropped their second consecutive game on Saturday night, losing 87-80 to the Cairns Taipans at the Cairns Convention Centre.
