NBL · Game Review

NBL game reviews – 2026-01-29

High-Tempo Hoops and Big Individual Performances: Today’s NBL Recap

It was an action-packed day in the NBL, headlined by a high-scoring clash between the Illawarra Hawks and the Sydney Kings. Punters and fans alike were treated to fast-paced offence, big scoring runs, and some standout individual efforts that will definitely catch the eye of anyone betting on player props or team totals going forward.

From the opening tip, the scoring tempo was up, with both sides consistently putting up points across all four quarters. The data tells a story of one team controlling the game early and never really letting go of that advantage, even as the opposition kept pace in the second half.

Below is a deep dive into the only matchup on today’s slate, breaking down the scoring by quarter, team performances, and the key player stats that shaped the outcome.

Illawarra Hawks vs Sydney Kings – Stat-Packed Shootout Ends 122–104

The matchup between the Illawarra Hawks (away) and the Sydney Kings (home) turned into a genuine shootout, with the Kings running out 122–104 winners by full time. The Kings put up 63 points in the first half and 59 in the second, while the Hawks managed 45 before the break and matched the Kings with 59 in the second half. That early gap proved decisive, as Sydney’s first-half dominance laid the foundation for the 18-point victory.

Score Flow and Game Narrative

The quarter-by-quarter breakdown shows how the Kings built and then protected their lead:

  • 1st quarter: Kings 28 – 22 Hawks
  • 2nd quarter: Kings 35 – 23 Hawks
  • 3rd quarter: Kings 28 – 29 Hawks
  • 4th quarter: Kings 31 – 30 Hawks

Sydney led 63–45 at half-time, effectively winning the game in the first two quarters. Illawarra responded well after the break, outscoring the Kings 29–28 in the third and keeping it tight at 31–30 in the fourth. But with both teams scoring 59 points in the second half, the Hawks never really ate into that earlier damage.

For bettors, that profile is worth noting: Sydney started hot, while Illawarra’s scoring lifted as the game wore on. That may influence how you look at first-half lines versus full-game totals in future meetings between these sides.

Sydney Kings: Balanced Offence and Big Nights Across the Rotation

Putting up 122 points rarely comes from one or two hot hands, and the Kings delivered a genuinely balanced offensive performance. Several players cleared double figures in points, and a number of them filled up multiple stat categories.

Key Kings Scorers

  • Tim Soares – 23 points
  • Kendric Davis – 22 points
  • Makuach Maluach – 21 points
  • Xavier Cooks – 15 points
  • Torrey Craig – 14 points
  • Kouat Noi – 12 points
  • Jaylin Galloway – 11 points

Seven Kings players hit double figures, which is huge for those tracking overs on team points or looking at multi-leg player-points markets. The scoring core was led by Soares, Davis and Maluach, but the supporting cast ensured Illawarra had no easy defensive assignments.

All-Round Production: PRA, PR and RA Highlights (Kings)

For punters keen on PRA (points + rebounds + assists) and combo markets, Sydney put up several notable stat lines:

  • Tim Soares: 30 PRA, 29 PR, 7 RA
  • Kendric Davis: 34 PRA, 25 PR, 12 RA
  • Makuach Maluach: 27 PRA, 27 PR, 6 RA
  • Torrey Craig: 24 PRA, 19 PR, 10 RA
  • Xavier Cooks: 22 PRA, 21 PR, 7 RA
  • Jaylin Galloway: 18 PRA, 15 PR, 7 RA
  • Matthew Dellavedova: 13 PRA, 6 PR, 9 RA

These numbers show how multi-dimensional Sydney’s key contributors were. Soares combined his 23 points with 6 rebounds and 1 assist, while Davis stacked up 22 points, 3 boards and 9 assists. Maluach’s 21 points came alongside 6 rebounds, and Craig delivered a near double-double impact with 14 points and 5 rebounds, plus 5 assists.

From a betting angle, Davis and Soares in particular look like prime candidates for future PRA and assist/points combo markets, while Maluach’s scoring and rebounding mix gives him strong appeal in PR lines.

Passing and Playmaking: Kings’ Assists Leaders

  • Kendric Davis – 9 assists
  • Matthew Dellavedova – 7 assists
  • Torrey Craig – 5 assists
  • Jaylin Galloway – 3 assists
  • Tyler Robertson – 2 assists
  • Tim Soares – 1 assist
  • Xavier Cooks – 1 assist
  • Shaun Bruce – 1 assist

Davis clearly ran the show as the primary creator, flirting with a double-double in points and assists. Dellavedova’s 7 dimes and 9 RA show he still brings that classic floor general contribution, combining ball movement with solid work on the glass.

Rebounding: Kings Control the Boards by Committee

  • Xavier Cooks – 6 rebounds
  • Tim Soares – 6 rebounds
  • Torrey Craig – 5 rebounds
  • Jaylin Galloway – 4 rebounds
  • Makuach Maluach – 6 rebounds
  • Kendric Davis – 3 rebounds
  • Matthew Dellavedova – 2 rebounds

Sydney didn’t rely on a single dominant rebounder; instead, multiple players chipped in. Cooks, Soares, Maluach and Craig all hit 5+ boards, making the Kings tough to beat on the glass and giving second-chance opportunities to a team already scoring freely.

Defensive Impact and Mistakes: Kings’ Steals, Blocks and Turnovers

The Kings combined pressure defence with a few turnovers of their own, producing busy stat lines in the defensive categories:

  • Kouat Noi: 2 steals, 1 block, 3 turnovers (6 combined TOs + stocks)
  • Torrey Craig: 1 steal, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers (5 combined)
  • Xavier Cooks: 1 steal, 1 block, 1 turnover (3 combined)
  • Kendric Davis: 1 steal, 4 turnovers (5 combined)
  • Matthew Dellavedova: 1 steal, 1 turnover (2 combined)
  • Tim Soares: 1 steal, 0 blocks, 0 turnovers (1 combined)
  • Makuach Maluach: 1 steal, 0 blocks, 0 turnovers (1 combined)

Craig’s rim protection (2 blocks) and Noi’s activity (2 steals, 1 block) stood out, even as Davis and Noi both coughed the ball up multiple times. For prop bettors, those “stocks” (steals + blocks) numbers for Craig and Noi are worth filing away, especially if markets underprice their defensive output.

Three-Point Shooting: Kings Light It Up from Deep

The Kings spread the floor nicely with several players connecting from beyond the arc:

  • Tim Soares – 5 threes
  • Makuach Maluach – 3 threes
  • Kendric Davis – 2 threes
  • Kouat Noi – 2 threes
  • Torrey Craig – 2 threes
  • Jaylin Galloway – 1 three

Soares leading the team with 5 made threes is especially interesting for a big, boosting both his scoring ceiling and his PR/PRA upside. Multiple perimeter threats forced Illawarra to defend the arc, opening up lanes and driving the final team total past the 120 mark.

Illawarra Hawks: Late Surge but Too Much Ground to Make Up

Despite the 18-point defeat, the Hawks still put up 104 points and matched the Kings 59–59 in the second half. Offensively, several Illawarra players produced meaningful stat lines, suggesting that while the team defence lagged early, the scoring talent is very much there.

Key Hawks Scorers

  • Tyler Harvey – 25 points
  • JaVale McGee – 17 points
  • Daniel Grida – 17 points
  • William Hickey – 15 points
  • Sam Froling – 7 points
  • Mason Peatling – 6 points
  • Q.J. Peterson – 11 points
  • Wani Lodu Swaka Lo Buluk – 5 points

Harvey led the way with 25 points and was clearly the primary scoring threat, especially from beyond the arc, while McGee, Grida and Hickey provided strong support. Bench and role players like Peatling and Peterson chipped in, but the damage conceded early meant they were playing from behind all night.

All-Round Production: PRA, PR and RA Highlights (Hawks)

Several Hawks put up big combo numbers despite the loss:

  • JaVale McGee: 30 PRA, 26 PR, 21 RA
  • Tyler Harvey: 26 PRA, 25 PR, 1 RA
  • William Hickey: 25 PRA, 20 PR, 20 RA
  • Daniel Grida: 20 PRA, 20 PR, 3 RA
  • Sam Froling: 19 PRA, 14 PR, 12 RA
  • Wani Lodu Swaka Lo Buluk: 9 PRA, 7 PR, 4 RA
  • Mason Peatling: 9 PRA, 8 PR, 3 RA

McGee’s 30 PRA line is a standout – combining 17 points with 9 rebounds and 4 assists – and points to a big-man role that’s highly relevant for PRA and RA props. Hickey quietly matched him on RA with 10 rebounds and 5 assists (20 RA), adding 15 points for 25 PRA. Harvey’s 26 PRA came almost entirely from scoring, reinforcing his shoot-first profile.

Rebounding and Playmaking: Hawks’ Supporting Numbers

Rebounds (Hawks):

  • JaVale McGee – 9 rebounds
  • Sam Froling – 7 rebounds
  • Todd Blanchfield – 5 rebounds
  • William Hickey – 5 rebounds
  • Daniel Grida – 3 rebounds
  • Wani Lodu Swaka Lo Buluk – 2 rebounds
  • Mason Peatling – 2 rebounds

McGee’s 9 boards and Froling’s 7 show the Hawks had a capable interior presence, even if it didn’t translate into a win. For RA markets, both remain worth monitoring.

Assists (Hawks):

  • William Hickey – 5 assists
  • Sam Froling – 5 assists
  • JaVale McGee – 4 assists
  • Tyler Harvey – 1 assist
  • Todd Blanchfield – 1 assist
  • Mason Peatling – 1 assist
  • Q.J. Peterson – 1 assist
  • Wani Lodu Swaka Lo Buluk – 2 assists

Interestingly, Froling and Hickey each dished 5 dimes, indicating Illawarra’s offence wasn’t purely guard-driven. McGee adding 4 assists further underlines the Hawks’ frontcourt playmaking. That’s useful context when you’re weighing assist lines on bigs who see touches at the elbows and in handoff actions.

Defensive Disruption: Hawks’ Steals, Blocks and Turnovers

Steals and Blocks:

  • William Hickey – 4 steals
  • Tyler Harvey – 3 steals
  • JaVale McGee – 2 blocks
  • Todd Blanchfield – 1 block

Hickey was a menace in the passing lanes with 4 steals, and Harvey added 3 of his own. McGee provided rim protection with 2 blocks. Those defensive numbers are backed up in the combined turnovers + steals + blocks metric:

  • Tyler Harvey – 6 (TOs + steals + blocks)
  • William Hickey – 6
  • JaVale McGee – 3
  • Daniel Grida – 2

Harvey and Hickey again show up as high-activity players, something that can be leveraged in markets that offer steals or defensive stat props.

Turnovers (Hawks):

  • Tyler Harvey – 3 turnovers
  • William Hickey – 2 turnovers
  • Daniel Grida – 2 turnovers
  • Q.J. Peterson – 2 turnovers
  • JaVale McGee – 1 turnover
  • Sam Froling – 1 turnover
  • Mason Peatling – 1 turnover

While Illawarra created plenty of disruption defensively, they also turned it over enough to feed Sydney’s transition game. That extra possession battle, combined with the Kings’ hot shooting, ultimately told on the scoreboard.

Three-Point Shooting: Hawks Lean on Harvey

  • Tyler Harvey – 4 threes
  • Q.J. Peterson – 2 threes
  • Daniel Grida – 1 three
  • Wani Lodu Swaka Lo Buluk – 1 three

Harvey’s 4 made threes underline his role as Illawarra’s primary perimeter gun. With Peterson and Grida chipping in, the Hawks had some shooting, but not at the same volume or distribution as the Kings, who had multiple players hitting multiple shots from beyond the arc.

What This Matchup Tells Us for Betting Going Forward

From a wagering perspective, this game delivered several clear signals:

  • High totals potential: With a combined 226 points and both teams scoring 59 each in the second half, future overs markets in this matchup will be closely watched.
  • Kings’ depth: Seven players in double figures suggests Sydney’s scoring is less reliant on one star, making single-player “unders” riskier but team points overs more appealing when the pace is up.
  • Hawks’ second-half resilience: Matching the Kings 59–59 after half-time hints Illawarra can cover second-half lines even if they start slowly.
  • Prop standouts:
    • Kendric Davis: Strong points + assists profile (22 pts, 9 ast, 34 PRA).
    • Tim Soares: High-impact scorer with shooting range (23 pts, 5 threes, 30 PRA).
    • JaVale McGee: Big PRA and RA contributor (17 pts, 9 reb, 4 ast; 30 PRA).
    • Tyler Harvey: Volume scorer and steals threat (25 pts, 4 threes, 3 steals).
    • William Hickey: All-round stat stuffer (15 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast, 4 steals; 25 PRA).

Those patterns are exactly the type of edges you want to cross-check against live odds and player lines before getting your bets on.

Conclusion: What Today’s Numbers Mean for Your Next Bet

Today’s NBL clash between the Sydney Kings and the Illawarra Hawks delivered everything you’d want from a betting perspective: high scoring, clear momentum swings by half, and a stack of players putting up useful data points across points, rebounds, assists and defensive stats.

The Kings’ 122–104 win showcased their depth and offensive balance, while the Hawks proved they can score with anyone once they settle into the game. Performances from the likes of Tim Soares, Kendric Davis, JaVale McGee, Tyler Harvey and William Hickey will shape how markets are priced next time out – and that’s where you can find value if you’re paying close attention.

Before you lock in your next NBL bets, make sure you’re getting the best possible price. Use our odds comparison tool to line up markets from all the major bookies, hunt for value on game totals, spreads and player props, and turn detailed stat breakdowns like today’s into smarter, better-informed wagers.