NBL game reviews – 2026-01-05

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

The game started at a furious pace. The Phoenix came out firing and took the opening term 35–31. Offensively, they were locked in early, but the Kings did enough to keep it close and avoid an early blowout.

In the second quarter, Sydney tightened the screws just enough, winning the term 28–25. That slight edge meant the Phoenix held only a narrow lead at half-time, up 60–59. It was already shaping as a night where offence would decide the result rather than defence.

The Kings really started to separate themselves after the break. They outscored S.E. Melbourne 36–32 in the third quarter, shifting the momentum and putting real pressure on the Phoenix defence. Both sides still found points easily, but Sydney were that little bit sharper in execution.

In the final period, with the game there to be won, Sydney again held the edge, taking the fourth quarter 29–25. That closed out a 65–57 second-half advantage for the Kings, turning a one-point half-time deficit into a seven-point road win, 124–117.

Key Phoenix Performances

The Phoenix may have fallen short on the scoreboard, but there was no issue with their offensive firepower. Several players posted big numbers across points and combined stat categories.

Kendric Davis was the standout for S.E. Melbourne. He poured in 30 points, hitting 4 three-pointers, and rounded out his game with 4 rebounds and 6 assists. His all-round influence is captured in his combined metrics: he finished with 34 PR (points + rebounds) and a massive 40 PRA (points + rebounds + assists). For player prop bettors, that’s the sort of stat line that smashes most lines on offer.

Veteran guard Matthew Dellavedova also had a big night. He scored 20 points, dished 5 assists, and added 1 rebound and 1 steal. His totals translated to 21 PR and 26 PRA, underlining how involved he was as both a scorer and facilitator. Dellavedova’s blend of playmaking and scoring made him one of the Phoenix’s most reliable options.

On the wings, Kouat Noi was a key secondary scorer with 14 points, including 2 made threes. He contributed across the stat sheet with 5 rebounds and 1 assist, for 19 PR and 20 PRA. That’s the kind of line that often sits in that attractive mid-range for points and PRA player markets.

Off the bench, Makuach Maluach gave the Phoenix great energy. He chipped in 15 points and grabbed 6 rebounds, plus 1 assist. His combined tallies of 21 PR and 22 PRA show how important he was in keeping the Phoenix in touch whenever the starters sat.

Tyler Robertson also produced a tidy all-round game with 11 points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist. He hit 2 three-pointers as well, ending on 14 PR and 15 PRA. That sort of balanced contribution is handy for multi-leg props involving points and threes.

From the frontcourt, Tim Soares and Shaun Bruce deserve a mention for their rounded stat lines:

• Tim Soares: 6 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and a game-high 3 blocks. He finished with 11 PR and 13 PRA, plus 3 steals + blocks combined.
• Shaun Bruce: 7 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, for 12 PR and 16 PRA. His work on the glass and as a playmaker gave the Phoenix some stability.

Other contributors for S.E. Melbourne included:

• Jaylin Galloway: 8 points, 0 rebounds, 0 assists, but added 2 made threes and showed his shooting touch.
• Xavier Cooks: 4 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, for 5 PR and 6 PRA.
• Hunter Goodrick: 2 points, 0 rebounds, 0 assists, finishing with 2 PR and 2 PRA.
• Goc Malual and Lueth Awan: did not register counting stats in the recorded metrics, both listed with 0 points, 0 rebounds, 0 assists.

Defensively, the Phoenix had a few bright spots outside of Soares’ rim protection: Dellavedova and Robertson each picked up 1 steal, while most others finished with zeros in steals and blocks. In a game where both teams broke the 115 mark, it’s no surprise the defensive stat sheet is relatively modest.

Kings Spread the Scoring Load

The Sydney Kings’ win was built on balanced scoring and strong all-round performances across the roster. While they didn’t have a single 30-point explosion, they had multiple players in double figures, which made them harder to guard over four quarters.

Leading the way was Nathan Sobey, who finished with 26 points, including a scorching 5 made threes. He also pulled down 7 rebounds and handed out 5 assists. That stat line ballooned to 33 PR and a monster 38 PRA, underlining just how central he was to the Kings’ offence and overall tempo.

In the frontcourt, Jordan Hunter was superb. He tallied 23 points, knocked down an eye-catching 4 three-pointers, and added 5 rebounds. His combined stats hit 28 PR and 28 PRA (with 0 assists), making him one of the most efficient performers on the court. He also contributed 1 steal, rounding out a big night.

Angus Glover continued the theme of versatile contributions. He delivered 18 points, including 3 triples, with 5 rebounds and 4 assists. That gave him 23 PR and 27 PRA, easily clearing standard mid-range player lines in both areas.

DJ Mitchell chipped in with a very solid game of his own: 16 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists, highlighted by 4 made threes. He finished with 18 PR and 21 PRA, making him another dangerous perimeter threat the Phoenix struggled to contain.

Starting or off the bench, Owen Foxwell gave the Kings valuable production: 16 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists, for a total of 19 PR and 23 PRA. He also nabbed 1 steal and kept the ball moving in key stretches.

John Brown made his presence felt on the glass and in the passing lanes. He scored 10 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, and dished 2 assists to finish on 18 PR and 20 PRA. Defensively, he added 1 steal, and his physicality around the rim was important in limiting the Phoenix’s second-chance opportunities.

Other Kings contributors included:

• Wes Iwundu: 6 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists for 8 PR and 10 PRA, plus 1 block and 1 steal + 2 turnovers for 3 total TOs/steals/blocks.
• Ian Clark: 4 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, ending with 5 PR and 6 PRA, plus 1 steal.
• Malique Lewis: 3 points, 0 rebounds, 2 assists, with 1 made three and 3 PRA and 5 PA.
• Daniel Foster: recorded 0 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist (for 2 PR and 3 PRA).
• Akech Aliir: finished with 2 points, 0 rebounds, 0 assists (for 2 PR and 2 PRA).
• Ellis Biggar: did not record points, rebounds or assists in the listed stats.

Defensively, Sydney didn’t rack up huge block or steal totals – this was an offensive game first and foremost – but Wes Iwundu had the Kings’ only block in the recorded stats, while Jordan Hunter, Ian Clark, Owen Foxwell, and John Brown each came away with 1 steal. That spread of small defensive plays helped slow the Phoenix just enough down the stretch.

Turnovers, Hustle Stats and Betting Takeaways

In a close, high-scoring game like this, little things matter. Turnovers were generally under control for both sides, but a few players saw the ball ripped away or coughed it up under pressure:

• For the Phoenix, Kouat Noi had 3 turnovers, while Tim Soares committed 2. Several others – including Kendric Davis, Hunter Goodrick, Tyler Robertson, Jaylin Galloway and Makuach Maluach – each had 1 turnover.
• For the Kings, the ball-handling was mostly clean. Wes Iwundu and Owen Foxwell had 2 turnovers each, with DJ Mitchell, Angus Glover and Nathan Sobey registering 1 turnover apiece.

The combined “turnovers + steals + blocks” metric gives a sense of overall activity on both sides of the ball:

• For S.E. Melbourne, Tim Soares led with 5 in that combined category, while Kouat Noi posted 3, and several others – including Tyler Robertson and Makuach Maluach – finished with 2 or fewer.
• For Sydney, Wes Iwundu and Owen Foxwell each tallied 3 in that combined metric, while Jordan Hunter, Ian Clark, DJ Mitchell, Angus Glover, Nathan Sobey, and John Brown were all involved to varying degrees.

From a betting perspective, this game screams “overs” in a few key markets:

• Team totals: Both sides eclipsed 115 points, with Sydney hitting 124 and the Phoenix 117. Any pre-game total that sat in a typical NBL range would have been under severe threat almost from the opening term.
• Player points and PRA lines: Stars like Kendric Davis (30 points, 40 PRA) and Nathan Sobey (26 points, 38 PRA) would have cashed a lot of overs tickets. Secondary options such as Jordan Hunter, Angus Glover and DJ Mitchell also posted strong totals in both points and PRA.
• Three-pointers made: This was a great game from deep. On the Kings’ side alone, Hunter (4), Sobey (5), Glover (3) and Mitchell (4) went off from beyond the arc. For S.E. Melbourne, Davis (4), Noi (2), Robertson (2) and Galloway (2) all hit multiple triples.

For future matchups, punters will surely be keeping an eye on how books adjust totals and player props for these sides. Both teams showed they’re more than comfortable in up-tempo, high-scoring games where multiple players get green lights from deep.