However, the Kings remain in second spot on the ladder after eight rounds.
Both teams started slowly on the offensive end before Alex Toohey and Denzel Valentine sparked the Hoops Capital side to a 10-0 run.
In his first career NBL start, Jonah Bolden was also strong on both ends of the floor before United responded – seeing the game all tied up (21-all) with just over one minute to play.
Valentine put the harbour city side up by one (22-21) at the first change before keeping up the pressure and going into the main break leading 53-38.
He picked up where he left off, starting the period with a triple but then the hosts rattled off eight in a row.
DJ Hogg and Shaun Bruce steadied the ship for the visitors, who held a 72-65 advantage at three-quarter-time
However United burst out of the blocks in the fourth, scoring 11 of the first 16 points – closing the margin to just one before their advantage blew out to 13 points.
Five quick points by Kouat Noi closed the gap to eight but that was as close as the Sydney got, after Melbourne’s huge second half, running out winners by 12 points.
Mahmoud Abdelfattah’s side, who are now 7-4, now have 12 days off before their next game – a road trip to Perth’s RAC Arena to battle the Wildcats on Friday, December 1, from 9.30pm.
Shock loss but coming second
IN a surprising defeat, the Sydney Kings will head into the FIBA break on the back of a loss after going down 105-93 to Melbourne United at John Cain Arena on Sunday.
