Matthew Dellavedova is back on court and his steadying influence was a welcome return for the Sydney Kings reeling in a 21-point deficit.
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A calf injury had kept the NBA champion out of action since October 11, who was only passed fit on game day against the South East Melbourne Phoenix, and “as soon as he stepped onto the court, the game slowed down for the Kings”, former King Brad Rosen remarked during the 110-99 win.
And right when they needed it too. When Dellavedova first entered the fray after three minutes, 25 seconds, Sydney was trailing 24-4, soon to be 30-9 in the first quarter, but while the Olympic bronze medallist was on the court Sydney were able to steady.
“I think from the time he was injected into the game… it settled us down,” Kings’ coach Brian Goorjian said post-match.
“It got (Kendric Davis) back in the game and (like last year), if we’re going to go where we need to go (he’ll be instrumental).”
He nailed a three inside his first 50 seconds on court and from that point onwards the Kings began to gain some momentum which brought them back into the game and leading by 13 at three-quarter time. The Kings drew level late in the second quarter, 51-all, before hitting the front with a three to Will Johnston (13 points) to take a three-point lead into the main break.
The Kings survived with a 4-2 record without Dellavedova, including nine days on the road, winning three of those four matches, but they really needed him on Sunday. Sydney outscoring South East Melbourne whenever the legendary Boomer was on court.
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Nathan Sobey was a thorn in the side for the Kings with a season’s best 33 points and South East Melbourne gave the Kings another scare as his jump shot for three with under four and a half minutes left, reduced the deficit to four.
But that scare kicked the Kings into action once more and when the second of three slam dunks for Makuach Maluach (14 points) found the net the lead was 10 followed by Dellavedova (seven points, four assists) finding the hoop for two and the game was done.
Dellavedova spent more than 17 minutes on court. Kendric Davis finished with 28 points and nine assists and Xavier Cooks was a stand out with a double-double (15 points, 14 rebounds).
“He just provides what the team needs on any night,” Dellavedova remarked post-match. “He just provides what the team needs on any given night, six massive (offensive rebounds). He had a couple massive blocks. He’s distributing the ball. He’s six for seven from the field, three for three at the line.
“On any given night, he’s just doing what the team needs to win.”
It was the biggest comeback win of the NBL season to date.
“They shoot a lot of threes and came out hot early,” Dellavedova said.
“I think it’s something that people are talking about in the NBA as well. Like people are shooting so many threes, there’s a lot more comebacks, and what might have been a 20-point lead, 10 years ago feels like a 10-point lead now.”
Presure builds on import
Pressure continues to mount on South East Melbourne’s import Skylar Mays after spending under 11 minutes of the 40 on court against the Kings.
Ten minutes, 40 seconds to be exact. This follows 14 minutes and change in the nine-point loss to Tasmania a week ago.
In both matches, the American’s contributions were relative to his time on court scoring just six points across the two games, and only eight in 23 minutes against the Adelaide 36ers, more than a fortnight ago.
This from a 29-year-old with 105 NBA games experience and was a second round NBA draft pick in 2020.
So when asked, after the 110-99 loss to Sydney on Sunday, whether he was considering his options for the rest of the season, if Mays’ form did not improve, Phoenix coach Josh King was very matter of fact.
“I think everybody knows everybody is replaceable, including myself, this is professional sports” King remarked post-match. “So it’s a performance-based business that we’re in at the end of the day.”
“(I want to see) him playing better, contributing to winning,” he said after South East Melbourne’s seventh loss from their first 11.
“Doesn’t necessarily have to be points. But it’s not just with him, it’s a lot of different guys too.”
200th game for the former King
Former King Angus Glover entered the match in the fourth minute bringing up a very special milestone against the side he won two championships with.
On a court where he spent four seasons, and won back-to-back championships in seasons 2021-22 and 2022-23, the 28-year-old – who once wondered if he’d ever play a single NBL match – marked his 200th. He finished with 11 points in a gallant effort by his side.
The achievement taking on extra significance given his battles with three ACLs.
“It’s a story well told, he carries part of his Dad in those injured knees, part of Allan’s hamstring taken to rebuild (his son’s) knees,” Matt Russell said on commentary.
MCVEIGH’S STATEMENT AS WILDCATS’ SLUMP CONTINUES
The Perth Wildcats’ season continues to derail.
Their 100-92 loss to the Cairns at RAC Arena on Sunday was their fourth consecutive defeat.
It’s the first time in four seasons their fans have suffered through that.
Jack McVeigh shot the lights out for Cairns, with 36 points, ensuring the Taipans led at every break.
Kristian Doolittle (20 points and eight rebounds) tried to rally Perth in the final term, but with Brandon Knight and Jo Lual-Acuil currently sidelined with injury, the task was too much.
The Wildcats finished round 8 in seventh spot on the NBL ladder, which is a steep drop having held second place after round 6.
Hot from start
The Taipans were hot from long range from the outset.
Four of their first five scoring shots were all worth three points the other was from the free throw line.
And Cairns kept going to the well.
In the first quarter, they made eight of 14 three-point attempts and led 31-27.
By half-time, they were 12 of 19 and led 53-48.
McVeigh had five three-pointers and Jaylon Brown four.
Perth had made just three of nine attempts as a team.
Of Cairns final 100 points, 60 came from the three-point line, at 45.5 per cent shooting.
Jack’s back
McVeigh stamped his authority on the game by half-time, with 23 points at 60 per cent shooting.
Only once previously this season has he finished a game with more than 23 points, when he dropped 32 in a 10-point win over Illawarra in round 4.
McVeigh made five of nine attempts from long range in that game against the Hawks, his best shooting this season.
He had five of 11 at half-time against the Wildcats on Sunday.
He finished with eight three pointers from 15 attempts.
McVeigh likes playing against Perth.
He also converted eight of 15 from long range in his 34 points against the Wildcats back in January this year.
Brown almost went unnoticed with his 22 points on Sunday, which included six of 10 shooting from beyond the three-point line.
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Battling on the boards
Rebounding has not been a strength of Cairns this season and they lost this battle 33-37 on Sunday.
The Taipans are now minus 118 in this area in 13 games having not finished in front in this statistic in any of those games.
Perth has been hurting on the boards too with Lual-Acuil Jr sidelined.
The Wildcats went with Alex Higgins-Titsha into the starting line up for the first time, ahead of Angus Brandt.
Veteran Jesse Wagstaff was then called on before Brandt after Higgin-Titsha picked up two early fouls.
Former Wildcat Keanu Pinder was a handful for his old side in this area, with seven boards, before he fouled out with three minutes remaining.
Jonah Bolden, with seven, was also good.
The Cats need Lual-Acuil back, as he averaged better than 20 points and nine rebounds a game in the first two outings of the season before suffering a calf injury in round 2 win over New Zealand.
The Wildcats have won rebound battle just twice in seven games since.
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