Kings take care of wounded JackJumpers

The Sydney Kings might have been without some stars themselves, but the Tasmania JackJumpers lost two more key players and Kendric Davis put up 40 points for the home team to win 105-94 win at Qudos Bank Arena.

Both teams were short on key players coming into the Thursday night match up with the Kings without Xavier Cooks, Matthew Dellavedova and Hunter Goodrick, but they did welcome in injury replacement story Torrey Craig.

The JackJumpers arrived in Sydney on the back of the devastating news that captain Will Magnay was out for the season with a foot injury. That left Majok Deng and Josh Bannan to hold down the fort in the front court, but then the news got even worse.

Deng fell heavily to the floor when attempting a shot and getting fouled inside the first minute of the game which left him dazed and he immediately entered concussion protocols.

If that wasn’t bad enough, Bryce Hamilton hurt a knee in the second half too for Tasmania after having 15 points, three rebounds and three assists and didn't return.

While the Kings remained in a degree of control and did lead by as much as 23 points, the JackJumpers did keep fighting and even won the fourth quarter before Sydney ended up winning by 11.

Kendric Davis had the best scoring game of his NBL career with 40 points with eight assists on 6/11 three-point shooting while the signs from newly arrived import Torrey Craig was encouraging.

The NBA veteran and former NBL Best Defensive Player was out there for 25:32 and finished with 12 points, four rebounds, two steals and two blocks.

Tim Soares also had 16 points, eight rebounds and three blocks, Kouat Noi 14 points, four boards and three assists, and Jaylin Galloway eight points, five rebounds and two blocks.

Tasmania fought valiantly with a 30-point fourth quarter with David Johnson finishing with 23 points and seven rebounds on 4/6 three-point shooting.

Josh Bannan also had 18 points and 15 rebounds, Nick Marshall 16 points, four boards and two steals, Ben Ayre 10 points and four assists, and Tyger Campbell nine points and six assists.

Deng's injury clearly rattled Tasmania early, Sydney scoring 10 straight points amid an overall 20-4 run to charge ahead 20-8.

Tyler Robertson's circus-trick tip-in on the quarter-time bell gave the Kings a 26-14 advantage.

It couldn't have been a worse quarter for the JackJumpers who shot just 5/16, coughed up six turnovers and conceded six offensive rebounds.

Davis got rolling in the second stanza, while Soares continued to prove a menace inside against Tasmania's undermanned front court.

When Davis nailed a long step-back jumper on the half-time horn, Sydney were well in front, 52-36.

The Kings' cushion blew out to 68-47 when Craig's athletic rejection of Anthony Drmic ended in a Davis triple.

Davis poured in 14 for the term - including four threes - and had 30 at three quarter-time, at which point Sydney led 83-64.

A Kouat Noi three-pointer pushed the margin out to 92-69, before the Jackies finished with an honourable flourish.

The JackJumpers have the super short turnaround now to host the Illawarra Hawks on Saturday while the Kings remain at home to take on the Adelaide 36ers in a mouth-watering match up on Sunday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26 – PRIDE ROUND

SYDNEY KINGS 105 (Davis 40, Soares 16, Noi 14)

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 94 (Johnson 23, Bannan 18, Marshall 16)

BOX SCORE