Agada, Goulding Fire United Over Kings on Boxing Day

The one-two scoring punch of Chris Goulding and Caleb Agada is showing it could take Melbourne United a long way in #NBL22 following another 82-68 win over the Sydney Kings at Qudos Bank Arena on Boxing Day.

It wasn’t the same emphatic result that United had over the Kings a week and-a-half ago when they won by 42 points on the back of scoring the game's opening 26 points at John Cain Arena, but the defending champions are continuing to build impressive momentum this NBL season.

It's far from a two-man show, but the scoring and shooting combination of Goulding and Agada is coming together in particularly impressive fashion for United.

It was Goulding who caught fire with three triples just before half-time and 13 points in no time on his way to 20 points, but then it was new import Agada who closed the door on the Kings as he continues to show he could be one of the best scorers in the league this season.

Agada finished with the remarkable stat-line of 24 points, 14 rebounds, four steals, four blocks and three assists on shooting 10/18 from the field and 3/8 from the land of plenty.

Jo Lual-Acuil added 12 points and four rebounds for Melbourne and Next Star Ariel Hukporti seven points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots.

United coach Dean Vickerman didn’t like the start defensively too much, but was glad it got better as the game went on.

"I thought defensively we have been so good over the last couple of games, but i didn’t think the way that we boxed out or the pressure that we applied was at the level or standard early on," Vickerman said.

"That happens sometimes around the Christmas games that there's a little sluggishness, and we were aware of it. We worked out today early to try and get that out, but we didn’t quite get it out.

"Our offence was OK in the first quarter to tick that over, but once we applied the pressure we felt like we were playing the basketball we had been playing the past couple of games."

Xavier Cooks continued his outstanding form for the Kings adding in some outside shooting to his trademark defence, rebounding and hustle. He put up 12 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and three blocks for the afternoon despite shooting 4/18.

Jarell Martin finished with 19 points and seven rebounds on only 10 shots with Wani Swaka Lo Buluk playing a handy cameo with 10 points with the Kings still without import duo RJ Hunter and Jaylen Adams, and losing rookie Biwali Bayles to a rolled ankle.

Cooks was frustrated at the shots that didn’t fall but overall letting Melbourne go on runs and their physical style were bigger factors.

"I felt like we were getting good looks, I mean I went 2/13 from two and 10 of them shots I'll make every day of the week besides today. I also think we got a bit carried away when Goulding was hitting tough shots, we dropped our heads a little bit," Cooks said.

"He makes tough shots but you have to make him work for it, and if he makes the tough shots then tip your cap to him. The physicality at some points of the game and then their runs were better than ours tonight were the biggest factors."

When Melbourne scored the opening four points of the game it was hard not to hark back to that 26-0 start for United in the last meeting between the two teams, but on this occasion the Kings worked into the contest nicely largely through the in-form Xavier Cooks

He had seven points early before Tom Vodanovich and Jarell Martin knocked down three-pointers. Mason Peatling responded with two of his own, though, for Melbourne before Angus Glover hit from deep to help Sydney to the 26-24 quarter-time edge.

The Kings then threatened to open up a handy lead to start the second period with triples to Wani Swaka Lo Buluk and Matur Maker as the advantage grew to seven.

However, it was then Chris Goulding time the rest of the half. He hit three three-pointers and two more jumpers to close the opening half with a stunning 13 points in a matter of minutes to help United to the 44-40 lead.

Goulding didn’t cool off at the half, opening the third quarter with his fourth three-pointer of the game to put Melbourne up seven. He helped maintain that seven-point lead later in the term with a fifth triple before Caleb Agada banked one in, and Jack White scored on the three quarter-time buzzer with United up 66-59.

It took more than three minutes for either team to make a field goal in the fourth quarter and it came for Melbourne through Matthew Dellavedova on an offensive board to put them up nine.

Agada soon hit another three to put United up 11 and from there the reigning champs cruised to a third straight win this season, winning by 14.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 4

SYDNEY KINGS 68 (Martin 19, Cooks 12, Swaka Lo Buluk 10)

MELBOURNE UNITED 82 (Agada 24, Goulding 20, Lual-Acuil 12) 

BOX SCORE