Melbourne cruise past Sydney to maintain unbeaten run

No Shea Ili, no Chris Goulding and no problems for Melbourne United as they improved to 4-0 to start NBL26 and won their opening Ignite Cup match up with the 107-93 road win over the Sydney Kings.

After a closely contested first half at Qudos Bank Arena, United jetted away from the Kings (1-2) with a commanding 31-19 third quarter before ultimately collecting six of the seven points on offer in the Ignite Cup.

Melbourne advanced impressively to 4-0 despite being without two of their mainstays - long-serving captain Goulding is yet to play this season due to a quad issue and Ili sidelined after suffering a hamstring injury in Friday's NBLxNBA clash with the New Orleans Pelicans.

It was a terrific all-round performance from Melbourne with dynamic import guard Tyson Walker nursing a thumb he hurt against the Pelicans, but starring with 27 points, four rebounds and four assists with 5/9 three-point shooting.

Big man Jesse Edwards was powerful with 22 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks with Milton Doyle providing another 16 points and six assists, Tanner Krebs 15 points, Next Star Dash Daniels nine points and four rebounds, and Finn Delany eight points and nine boards.

Kendric Davis's 21-point haul for Sydney came on the back of a rough shooting night where he went 5/18, thanks in part to the swarming defence of Daniels. He did make all 10 free-throw attempts.

Xavier Cooks also had 21 points, along with 10 boards, but his free-throw woes continued, going missing his first eight of the game and finishing with 1/10 to take his season tally to 1/14.

Matthew Dellavedova played his first game against his former team and had 12 points and seven assists for Sydney while Jaylin Galloway ended up with 12 points and three steals with 3/5 three-point shooting.

Melbourne closed a seesawing opening term on a 9-2 burst to lead 29-25.

Their advantage grew to 33-25 before Sydney responded with a 10-0 run to pinch the lead back.

Dellavedova's layup on the cusp of half-time edged the Kings in front 52-50, but the third term belonged to United.

Walker and Edwards stood tall, while Doyle's step back trey on the three quarter-time buzzer gave Melbourne an 81-71 cushion.

Tim Soares (seven points, nine rebounds) and Dellavedova, who was whistled for an unsportsmanlike foul when he dipped his shoulder into Walker's torso, both fouled out in the fourth as Sydney were unable to eat into the deficit.

Both teams are in action again in Round 4 with the Kings first up with a trip to Adelaide on Saturday with the mouth-watering first up match up with Kendric Davis for Sydney against the 36ers.

United return home to John Cain Arena on Sunday afternoon to play host to Marcus Lee and the Cairns Taipans.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26 – IGNITE CUP BY DISNEY+

SYDNEY KINGS 93 (Davis 21, Cooks 21, Dellavedova 12, Galloway 12)

MELBOURNE UNITED 107 (Walker 27, Edwards 22, Doyle 16)

BOX SCORE