Delly, Davis shine in first up Kings win

Photo: Sydney Kings Media.

Matthew Dellavedova and Kendric Davis combined for 30 points and 11 assists in their first game together at the Sydney Kings as they opened the NBL26 pre-season action beating the Tasmania JackJumpers 101-97.

With all but the NBL1 West Grand Finals being played over the weekend across the country, Monday night sparked the first official pre-season NBL game ahead of the 2025/26 season when the JackJumpers and Kings battled in front of a sold out Harcourts Stadium in Ulverstone.

There was great excitement over seeing the new faces in action for both teams highlighted by that star-studded Kings back court of Dellavedova and Davis with one the Championship Series MVP and the other the runner-up MVP in NBL25.

It's a fresh start for the JackJumpers too and it was a first hit out for new imports Bryce Hamilton, Tyger Campbell and David Johnson, and both teams ended up putting on a show with the combined 198 points.

It was the Kings leading 31-25 by the end of the first quarter and then stretching that advantage to 58-45 by half-time, but the JackJumpers hit back to the delight of the locals with 32 points to 20 in the third term.

In the end after Tasmania were up two with just over 1:30 to play not long after Johnson hit a three-pointer, Makuach Maluach responded with two bombs for Sydney in quick time which ultimately sealed the four-point win.

For anyone wanting an early look into how Matthew Dellavedova and Kendric Davis would work together in the court for the Kings would have been encouraged by what they saw.

Dellavedova delivered 15 and six assists while Davis added 15 points, five rebounds and five assists with both playing just about 25 and-a-half minutes each.

Makuach Maluach ended up top-scoring for Sydney with 18 points and four steals while Kouat Noi provided 13 points and four rebounds, Keli Leaulepe 15 points and five boards, Lueth Awan 11 points and three assists, and returning import big Tim Soares 10 points and five rebounds.

Jacob Richards is fresh off a standout NBL1 South season with the Hobart Chargers as he tries to earn an NBL contract somewhere. He did his chances no harm by delivering 21 points, six rebounds and four assists for the JackJumpers.

David Johnson showed exciting signs as a new import wing with Tasmania with 18 points, seven rebounds and three assists with 6/8 three-point shooting.

New import shooting guard Bryce Hamilton also had 12 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals despite seven turnovers with Ben Ayre going scoreless fresh off celebrating an NBL1 South championship over the weekend with the Sandringham Sabres.

Tyger Campbell added eight points and five assists, Nick Marshall nine points, Harrison Hornery eight points and three rebounds, and Anthony Drmic seven points and two assists.

The JackJumpers and Kings will again play each other on Wednesday night at Launceston's Elphin Sports Centre.

‍HUNGRY JACK'S NBL PRE-SEASON 2025/26

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 97 (Richards 21, Johnson 18, Hamilton 12)

SYDNEY KINGS 101 (Maluach 18, Leaulepe 15, Davis 15, Dellavedova 15)

BOX SCORE