Noi sparks Kings to big home win

He has the self-belief like few others and Kouat Noi delivered a match-winning performance for the Sydney Kings on Sunday afternoon as they hit back to beat the defending champion Tasmania JackJumpers 88-60.

The Kings were back at Qudos Bank Arena having lost their past three matches to Perth, New Zealand and Melbourne even though Thursday's narrow loss to United was a vastly improved showing.

They were hosting a JackJumpers team who also lost a tight one in Launceston to the South East Melbourne Phoenix on Friday, but they received a cruel blow pre-match with gun centre Will Magnay ruled out with a shoulder injury.

As the afternoon unfolded, the major difference between the team would be Noi. Coming off a scoreless outing on Thursday in Melbourne, he knocked down five three-pointers for 17 first half points on Sunday.

He then delivered one of the dunks of the NBL season over the top of Gorjok Gak in the third quarter before throwing down another one late in the piece and then finishing off with a three-point play.

His 26 points was a big reason why Sydney went on to score the 29-point win to improve to 6-5 on the season.

The forward rejoiced in entertaining the crowd, running to the courtside seats to high-five a punter following one of his successful triples.

"Goorj always says this is the entertainment business," Noi said.

"So you've got to go out there and if you're not putting seats for the fans to come and watch you, you're doing it wrong."

Cam Oliver had another double-double for the Kings with 12 points and 11 rebounds with Alex Toohey adding 11 points and four boards, Xavier Cooks 10 points, seven rebounds and four assists, and Bul Kuol nine points, four boards and two assists.

It was another rough offensive game for the JackJumpers who put up their equal lowest score and managed just 31 per cent shooting with 5/31 from deep to now have lost five of the last six to be 3-7 in their title defence.

Jordon Crawford had 12 points and three assists but shot 6/18 with Milton Doyle having 11 points on 3/11 with Craig Sword chiming in with nine points on 3/4 shooting from deep.

Tasmania coach Scott Roth insisted his belief in the playing group was unwavering and that no changes would be considered.

"If we can't turn the season around then I should just go home now, I guess," he said.

"It's sports, isn't it? Of course we believe it's going to turn around, and if it doesn't turn around it won't be because of a lack of work.

"I plan on keeping this group in front of me until something would happen.

"We might not win any games for the rest of the way out. I don't know what's going to transpire other than the fact that the group that we have has been wonderful."

With both teams coming off losses back on Thursday and Friday to open Round 7 respectively, it was the Kings who got the better of the start opening up a 15-5 inside the first five minutes including three balls to Izayah Le'afa and Bul Kuol.

The Kings went on to be leading 27-19 by the end of one but the JackJumpers were doing a good job to hang around with them getting back within three in the second period starting with a Craig Sword three ball and bucket to Majok Deng.

Four quick points heading towards half-time to Jordon Crawford then saw the JackJumpers within one, but then three triples from Kouat Noi in the final two and-a-half minutes of the half ensured the Kings were on top 41-33 going into the half.

By the half-time break, Noi had been the difference with his 17 points on 5/5 three-point shooting with Xavier Cooks, Jaylen Adams and Cam Oliver only managing to combine for six points on 3/10 shooting between them.

On the back of his five three-pointers in the first half, Noi took it inside for a monstrous dunk over Gorjok Gak in the third quarter to keep Sydney's lead at double-figures.

The Kings were still on top by 16 at three quarter-time before stretching that advantage out beyond 20 in the fourth frame on the way to the eventual 28-point victory.

The JackJumpers now head straight to Perth to face the Wildcats on Thursday night while the Kings remain at home to play host to the surging South East Melbourne Phoenix on Friday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2024/25

SYDNEY KINGS 88 (Noi 26, Oliver 12, Toohey 11)

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 60 (Crawford 12, Doyle 11, Sword 9)

BOX SCORE