Kevin Lisch and Jerome Randle each missed late shots for Sydney and David Barlow hit two free throws with three 10 seconds to go to ice the win, Melbourne's 10th straight over Sydney.

Sydney's first loss in six games drops them from top spot to second behind Perth, with the Wildcats due to play Illawarra later on Sunday.

Goulding finished with a match-high 16 points with David Barlow's 12, the only other double-digit scoring contribution to Melbourne's cause.

Four Kings hit double figures, headed by Randle with 15 and Lisch 12.

Andrew Bogut tallied 11 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks, but missed eight of his 12 field-goal attempts.

Melbourne led for most of the first quarter, but never by more than four points and by just one at the end of the period.

Lisch sparked Sydney's second-quarter surge, scoring 10 points, as the home side charged to a seven-point lead at halftime.

Sydney swelled their lead to 11 late in the third, but five-straight points to Goulding and two to former King Craig Moller slashed the gap to just four at the last change.

AAP