Davis stars as Kings beat JackJumpers

Kendric Davis is wasting no time finding his groove with the Sydney Kings ahead of NBL26 after putting up 25 points in 20 minutes on Wednesday night with his team beating the Tasmania JackJumpers 89-79.

The two teams took on one another for the second time this week, this time at Elphin Sports Centre in Launceston, and it was Davis who starred for the Kings on the back of what he did in NBL25 as MVP runner-up with the Adelaide 36ers.

He had 15 points in the first half alone and ended the game with 25 points to go with three steals, two assists and two rebounds while hitting all three of his long-range attempts and doing it all in a tick under 20 minutes.

Kouat Noi also made 4/8 from deep for Sydney for 15 points while Keli Leaupepe added 14 points and eight rebounds, Tim Soares 10 points and nine boards, Matthew Dellavedova six points, six rebounds and four assists.

The JackJumpers were well short of full strength but did have all three new imports available with Bryce Hamilton finishing with 21 points, six rebounds and three steals with 4/10 from three-point range.

Tyger Campbell had three points and three rebounds in his 21 minutes while David Johnson had eight points, two boards and two assists before an injury scare but he did appear moving without too much discomfort when he returned to the bench.

Jacob Richards is hunting an NBL deal after his best NBL1 South season at the Hobart Chargers and had 11 points and seven rebounds while Ben Ayre added 11 points, two assists and two steals.

The JackJumpers were once again without Majok Deng, Will Magnay, Josh Bannan and Kobe Williamson with Anthony Drmic also sitting out the game as well.

The Kings came into the contest minus Bul Kuol, Jaylin Galloway, Shaun Bruce, Tyler Robertson and Xavier Cooks on the back of their 101-97 win in the first pre-season hit out back on Monday at Ulverstone.

The two teams made the trip to Launceston for Wednesday night's second hit out with Sydney starting on fire with the game's first seven points before then leading 14-4 after a poster one-handed slam in transition from Tim Soares over Harrison Hornery.

The JackJumpers worked back into the contest and the margin was just five by quarter-time thanks to a pair of three balls to Ben Ayre who is fresh off an NBL1 South championship with the Sandringham Sabres.

Despite the 15 points in the first half for Sydney from Kendric Davis, they were only clinging to the 49-48 lead at half-time before Davis scored seven quick points again during the third term for the Kings lead to get back out to double-figures.

Despite a Bryce Hamilton three on the buzzer for Tasmania, Sydney were leading 70-61 after three before the Kings continued to have the answers for the 10-point victory.

Both teams will now get ready for the NBL Blitz in Canberra next week with the JackJumpers playing the Cairns Taipans on Thursday and the Adelaide 36ers on Saturday.

The Kings will be playing the Brisbane Bullets on Thursday and then the South East Melbourne Phoenix on Sunday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL PRE-SEASON 2025/26

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 89 (Hamilton 21, Marshall 19, Ayre 11, Richards 11)

SYDNEY KINGS 79 (Davis 25, Noi 15, Leaupepe 14)

BOX SCORE

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