FOR THE first time in the 2025/26 National Basketball League (NBL) season, Melbourne United were handed a loss, with their first defeat of the fixture coming at the hands of the Sydney Kings in a statement performance.

United entered Monday night’s clash at John Cain Arena with a perfect record of 10 wins from their first 10 games, and it looked as if there was every chance that they could finish the home and away fixture without a loss to their name.

The Kings were in enemy territory and facing the toughest task in the competition in knocking off a red-hot Melbourne outfit. However, the visitors had looked back to their best in recent weeks, on the back of a huge win over the Brisbane Bullets on the weekend, and had plenty of motivation in Matthew Dellavedova‘s return game.

In a thrilling contest that went down to the final possession, the Kings were able to hold on for the most impressive win of NBL26 to date, claiming a three-point victory on the road in a massive result for the entire season.

Melbourne United (92) def. by Sydney Kings (95)

It was a nail-biting affair in some rare Monday night action in the NBL, although the Kings led at every change, even holding a 12-point buffer in the third frame after scoring 11 unanswered points in an offensive blitz from the visitors.

As expected, United were able to rally late in the piece and make it game on in the fourth quarter, with Tyson Walker giving Melbourne the lead with just over four minutes to play. It looked as if this impressive Melbourne unit was going to overrun the visitors, but the Kings showed plenty of mental strength, and were able to answer down the other end.

Sydney did look in trouble when both Xavier Cooks and Matthew Dellavedova fouled out of the contest with a considerable amount of time left on the clock, but the Kings were able to hold on, courtesy of a three-point bomb from Bul Kuol from way outside the arc that gave the visitors some breathing space.

Melbourne big man Jesse Edwards had the chance to put his side in front in the final minute of the game, but missed both free throws, before Kendric Davis went down the other end and nailed both of his shots from the charity stripe to add salt to the wound for United. Milton Doyle was given the ball on the final possession, but could not get up the game-tying three-pointer as the buzzer sounded.

Davis was the star of the show for the Kings, with last year’s MVP runner-up dropping 34 points (13/25 FG), five rebounds and three assists in a massive showing that proved crucial in the win. Also impressing were Dellavedova (12 points, seven assists) and Cooks (14 points, seven boards, four assists), as the veterans played crucial roles for Sydney.

Walker was Melbourne’s top scorer with 22 points, nine boards and five assists, while Doyle had 19 points of his own and Next Star Dash Daniels had some impressive moments too, playing plenty of minutes in the second half.