Sydney Kings star Kendric Davis gave MVP voters one last exhilarating performance to think about as the classy guard powered his side to a thrashing 40-point win over the Brisbane Bullets on Friday night.
Davis had an unstoppable 27 points to half time before finishing with 31 points, shooting 13/15 and having eight assists as the 26-year-old sat out the fourth quarter with the game wrapped up.
But the 117-77 victory didn’t come with ease as the bottom-placed Bullets lifted to a nine-point advantage early in their final outing of the season, held on their home court at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.
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The Bullets led 33-26 at quarter time before being outscored 91-44 in the final three periods to fall to their 13th straight loss as their difficult season comes to a close.
Meanwhile, it was the Kings’ 11th straight win as they head into the post-season on a 17-2 run after starting 7-7.
Kings forward Xavier Cooks registered 13 points, eight rebounds and five assists. On starting debut for the Kings, Torrey Craig had 14 points and seven boards and veteran Matthew Dellavedova notched 13 points, including two threes, and five assists and four boards. Makuach Maluach had 15 points and three triples and a big dunk in the final term.
But the win came at a cost with Kings guard Tyler Robertson clutching at his right shoulder early in the fourth after colliding with Bullets forward Callum Dalton.
Robertson could be seen in discomfort heading straight for the changerooms after having 11 points and three triples.
Bullets guard Hunter Maldonado had a team-high 16 points, including 14 in the first half. Taine Murray stepped up with 13 points and three triples but it wasn’t enough.
The win locks in top spot and home court advantage throughout the entire post-season for the 24-9 Kings unless the second-placed Adelaide 36ers are able to pull off an unlikely massive win later on Friday night to leapfrog.
The Bullets, who have been hit hard by injuries this campaign, end what has been their worst season since rejoining the NBL in 2016. With just 18 per cent of their matches, it is their second worst win percentage record for a campaign in history for the foundation NBL club, who have featured across 40 seasons in the league.
It was 17 turnovers compared to the Kings’ four which hurt Darryl McDonald’s side on this occasion.
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DAVIS FOR MVP
The MVP contender was all gas, no breaks in his final game of the regular season.
Davis shot a clean 7/7 from the field in the opening 13 minutes which featured a clutch triple and pinpoint mid ranger when his side trailed in the first quarter.
Davis finished with 31 points from 27 minutes to give MVP voters a final match to ponder over before submitting their decisions.
While 36er star Bryce Cotton may be the favourite to some, strong pressure is being applied by Davis.
DELLY’S BIG THREE
Sydney Kings coach Brian Goorjian drew up the play during the timeout and his experienced guard Dellavedova delivered with a big three on the half time buzzer.
His clutch shot on the run from deep put the Kings up to an eight-point lead after they were down by nine late in the first quarter.
BULLETS START STRONG
The Bullets got off to a flying start, leading 33-26 at quarter time to make it look far from a 1v10 encounter.
The Queensland side’s 33 points equalled their highest scoring first term this season.
Maldonado led the charge, shooting 4/5 for eight points and having two rebounds and an assist.
Brisbane Bullets 77 (Maldonado 16, Murray 13)
Sydney Kings 117 (Davis 31, Maluach 15)
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