United entered Saturday's contest at Melbourne Arena, having won their past seven home games against the Kings, but the NBL frontrunners ended their drought with a dominant performance against their fierce interstate rivals.

United's attack disappeared in the opening quarter and the Kings took full advantage, jumping ahead 31-18 before extending their lead to 16 points with a 9-0 run to close the first half.

Melbourne attempted a second-half comeback but the visitors showed their championship favouritism as they thwarted every United charge to run out comfortable winners.

While happy with the result, first-year Kings coach Will Weaver was not overly concerned about the significance of ending the club's recent woes against United in Melbourne.

"Not really - I just don't care about that," Weaver said.

"We're just focused on heights that are months and years away."

Kings point guard Casper Ware tormented his former club with a game-high 28 points, Didi Louzada added 14 and Jae'Sean Tate finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds, as Andrew Bogut earned his first win over United in his home town.

Melo Trimble (19 points) and Shawn Long (18) tried valiantly to keep Melbourne in the match but they received little support apart from Casey Prather (10).

"We didn't really solve the problems of last time," coach Dean Vickerman said after United were unable to avenge their 10-point loss to Sydney in round nine.

"I thought we went in with a bit of a different plan but to have them shoot 36 free throws and make 14 threes as well, you're just not going to beat the Kings if you allow them to do those two things."

The visitors came out firing in the opening quarter with four three-pointers and some deft touches around the basket from Bogut to build a 13-point lead, Long playing a lone hand for Melbourne with 11 points for the term.

Momentum appeared to shift to the home side early in the second period when Prather scored back-to-back baskets and Bogut picked up his third foul.

But after seeing their lead reduced to seven with halftime approaching, the Kings hit back with the final nine points of the quarter to close the half up 52-36.

Melbourne showed signs of life in the third quarter with Long and Trimble combining for 12 points to reduce the margin to 11, but Ware answered the challenge with three triples to maintain Sydney's advantage.

Down 75-59 after three quarters, United's resistance was broken once Long fouled out early in the fourth as the Kings ran away with the contest.

Australian Associated Press