KD 40-piece exterminates injury-riddled JackJumpers

• 2025-26 NBL Team Lists and Roster Tracker
• ‘Catch 22’: Analysing our most coveted coaching jobs
• All 92 games of the 2025-26 WNBL season

No Xavier Cooks, no Matthew Dellavedova - no problems for the Sydney Kings as import point guard Kendric Davis pushed his claims to be alongside Bryce Cotton in the MVP favouritism after dropping 40 points in a dominant 105-94 win over the Tasmania JackJumpers at Qudos Bank Arena.

Davis was the runner-up to Cotton for last season's MVP while with the Adelaide 36ers and may be timing his run perfectly with the Kings continuing to storm home despite injuries to several key players.

It was another sad night for the JackJumpers, who were already missing skipper and big man Will Magnay - sidelined for the remainder of NBL26 with a foot injury, after Majok Deng left the game after 52 seconds due to a concussion.

Tasmania coach Scott Roth spoke about Deng's injury and the injury problems of the JackJumpers in the post-game press conference.

"(Deng's concussion was) scary... but he's up and about in there but it'll be a bit probably," Roth said.

"It's the grit and grind, I told them... obviously I'm super proud of them, it was ugly, it looked ugly, we played ugly, and if we had lost by 30 no one would have said too much about it other than they're hurt and injured.

"There are a lot of teams over the course of the season that have just gotten whacked and given in quickly and our guys continued to fight, so it's a character builder."

Tasmania remain in a fight to stay in sixth spot with the New Zealand Breakers just two games behind.

Match Recap

Sydney Kings defeated Tasmania JackJumpers 105-94 at Qudos Bank Arena behind Kendric Davis's explosive 40-point performance powered the dominant victory.

Key Details

• Result: Sydney Kings 105 def. Tasmania JackJumpers 94
• When: Wednesday, 22nd January 2026
• Where: Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney
• Attendance: 9,234
• Standings: View NBL Standings

By the Numbers

• Kendric Davis (Sydney Kings) starred with 40 points, two rebounds, eight assists and three turnovers in 32 minutes.
• David Johnson (Tasmania JackJumpers) scored 23 points, seven rebounds, one assist in 31 minutes.

What Happened

The Kings established their authority from the opening tip, building a commanding 26-14 advantage in the first quarter. Davis was on fire early, contributing significantly to Sydney's fast start as they controlled the tempo and dictated play throughout the opening period. The JackJumpers struggled to match Sydney's offensive intensity, finding themselves trailing by 12 points heading into the second quarter.

Sydney maintained their momentum in the second period, adding another 26 points to Tasmania's 22. The Kings' balanced attack complemented Davis's stellar individual performance, with multiple players contributing to extend the halftime lead. Tim Soares provided excellent support with efficient shooting, while the Kings' defense limited Tasmania's scoring opportunities and forced difficult shots throughout the first half.

The third quarter proved decisive as Sydney exploded for 31 points while holding Tasmania to 28. Davis continued his outstanding display, showcasing exceptional shooting ability by connecting on 14-from-23 from the field, including an impressive 6-from-11 from downtown. His 60.1% field goal percentage demonstrated remarkable efficiency, while his eight assists highlighted his playmaking ability. The Kings' superior three-point shooting proved crucial, as they connected on 11 triples compared to Tasmania's 10.

Tasmania mounted a spirited fourth-quarter comeback, outscoring Sydney 30-22 in the final period. David Johnson led the JackJumpers' charge with an outstanding performance, shooting 72.73% from the field and connecting on 4-from-6 from beyond the arc. Josh Bannan provided solid support with 18 points and 15 rebounds in a dominant display on the boards. However, Tasmania's earlier deficit proved too substantial to overcome despite their improved offensive output.

The Kings' superior shooting accuracy ultimately sealed the victory. Sydney shot an impressive 52.78% from the field compared to Tasmania's 47.3%, while their three-point shooting at 31.43% provided the crucial margin.

The JackJumpers actually outrebounded the Kings 43-40, but struggled with ball control, committing 13 turnovers compared to Sydney's 11. Davis's masterful performance, supported by contributions from Kouat Noi (14 points) and Soares (16 points with 77.78% shooting), powered the Kings to a convincing 11-point victory.