King for the Day: 'FIBA Jaylin' torches United

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It was high-level and aesthetically pleasing. The Sydney Kings in their purple and gold, Melbourne United in their sky blue uniforms and "FIBA Jaylin" Galloway pouring in a career high 27 points on a ridiculous 10-from-11 (5-from-5 threes) to propel the home team into third with a gritty 97-94 win against Melbourne United in Sydney.

It was an outstanding performance given Kings captain Matthew Dellavedova left the game with five minutes to go in the second quarter with a potential concussion after a hard foul by NBL Next Star Dyson Daniels on an up-fake in the post.

The Kings were already without former MVP Xavier Cooks, injured defensive guard Bul Kuol, Keli Leaupepe out for the season with a knee injury and Jason Spurgin yet to play this season because of a foot injury.

United have now lost eight of their last 10 and have dropped to fourth, overtaken by the resilient Kings.

"I said this going into the weekend — I’m excited about the guys I get to coach, because they’re incredible guys, and there’s a true belief within the group," head coach Brian Goorjian said.

"I think just the guys we brought in are really high character. Leaders in their own way.

"Obviously we know what Delly does, but KD (Kendric Davis) is a leader as well. Might not talk as much as Delly, might not look like Delly, but he leads in his own way.

"He’s been huge.

"Then a guy like Timmy (Soares) comes in every night and just does his job. Everything he does on the floor is about winning."

Key Details

• Result: Sydney Kings 97 def. Melbourne United 94
• When: Saturday, 11th January 2026
• Where: Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Jaylin Galloway (Sydney Kings) starred with 27 points, five rebounds, one steal, and one block in 32 minutes.
• Jesse Edwards (Melbourne United) scored 23 points, and had eight rebounds, three assists, and one steal in 27 minutes.

What Happened

The Kings established early control with a balanced offensive attack, leading 56-48 at halftime after outscoring Melbourne 30-25 in the second quarter. Sydney's hot shooting from deep kept them ahead through the opening two periods, with their perimeter game proving the difference in building their eight-point advantage at the main break.

Melbourne United mounted a third-quarter comeback, outscoring the Kings 25-23 to cut the deficit to six points entering the final period. The momentum shifted as United's interior presence began to assert itself, with Edwards dominating around the rim to keep his team within striking distance at 79-73 after three quarters.

The fourth quarter delivered heart-stopping basketball with 14 lead changes throughout the contest. Melbourne's late surge saw them outscore Sydney 21-18 in the final period, but the Kings' earlier work proved decisive. Sydney's ability to answer every Melbourne run in the closing minutes demonstrated their championship composure under pressure.

Galloway delivered a masterful shooting display, connecting on an outstanding 10-from-11 from the field, including a perfect 5-from-5 from downtown. His efficiency was remarkable, posting a game-high 31 efficiency rating while providing the Kings with consistent scoring throughout. Kendric Davis added 23 points despite a tough shooting night, going 9-from-22 from the field but contributing six assists to keep Sydney's offense flowing.

The Kings' superior three-point shooting proved decisive, connecting on 15-from-36 triples at 41.67% compared to Melbourne's 11-from-36 at 30.56%. Sydney's balanced scoring attack featured four players in double figures, with Tim Soares contributing 10 points and four blocks, while Kouat Noi added 10 points off the bench. Matthew Dellavedova provided veteran leadership with 11 points on efficient 4-from-7 shooting, including 3-from-6 from deep in limited minutes.

Melbourne's offensive execution was led by Edwards' dominant interior performance, shooting an exceptional 11-from-13 from the field for 84.62% efficiency. Chris Goulding added 21 points with five triples, while Tyson Walker orchestrated the offense with 16 points and six assists. Despite strong individual performances, United couldn't overcome Sydney's hot shooting from the perimeter in the crucial moments.