Noi stars as Kings smash JackJumpers

The Sydney Kings ended their three-game losing streak on Sunday by smashing Tasmania 88-60 at Qudos Bank Arena.

The win marked Tasmania’s lowest-ever score, as well as Sydney’s fourth-lowest points conceded at home ever and equal fifth-lowest conceded by the Kings all-time (home and away).

Match summary 

Sydney jumped out to the early lead thanks to efforts by starters Izayah Le’afa and Bul Kuol. This was complemented by bench impacts from Cam Oliver, Jaylen Adams and Kouat Noi. Despite a late basket by Craig Sword, the hosts led 27-19 at quarter-time. 

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A sweet dime from Xavier Cooks to Alex Toohey opened the scoring for the Kings in the second. Despite another triple by Noi,l the JJs closed the margin to just six. The Hoops Capital’s scoring then dried up before Noi landed back-to-back threes in less than a minute. The NSW product nailed another one, as the hosts led 41-33 at half-time. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Toohey and Cooks combined for the first nine points for the harbour city side, seeing the lead grow to 13. Soon after being injected back into the game, Noi made his presence felt with a huge poster dunk, which electrified the crowd at Qudos Bank Arena. Scores from Box Hill boys, Tyler Robertson and Keli Leaupepe, kept the scoreboard ticking over before late free-throws by Cooks and Jaylen Adams made it 67-51 at the final change. 

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A quick Cooks score, followed by a triple by Bul Kuol extended the advantage of Brian Goorjian’s side. When Oliver converted a putback, Sydney led by 21 with 7.51 to play. The US big man followed that up with an emphatic slam, as the Hoops Capital side kept its foot on the throat and didn’t let the reigning champions back into the contest. A late cameo from Shaun Bruce, as well as five more from player of the match Noi, as the hosts won by 28 points. 

Where the match was decided 

The Kings ended their three-game skid by claiming statistical wins in field goal percentage (49-31), three-point percentage (50-16), free-throw percentage (80-68), assists (17-12), bench points (48-23) and fast-break points (17-9). 

Key moment 

A strong first quarter put Sydney in a strong spot but a 47-27 second half sealed their sixth win of NBL25. 

Player of the game 

Noi was amazing in the win, scoring a game-high 26 points (including five triples) and two rebounds. 

The other standouts for Sydney were Oliver (12 points and 11 rebounds), Toohey (11 points) and Cooks (10 points and seven boards). 

What’s next 

Goorjian’s team, who are now 6-5, next host the South East Melbourne Phoenix on Friday, November 8 from 7.30pm AEDT. 

Tickets to this game, which is the Hoops Capital club’s annual home Indigenous Round clash, are still available here.