NBL 2021-22: Game reports and scores from Australia’s premier basketball competition

Melbourne United proved too strong for the depleted Kings on Boxing Day but things were at least closer than the sides’ previous meeting.

United made it three wins on the bounce. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)

Melbourne United has begun the first of six matches away from home with a 14-point win over the Sydney Kings at Qudos Bank Arena.

In stark contrast to the 42-point blowout between the sides the last time they met, when the Kings registered their lowest-ever NBL score of 47 points, Sydney kept things a lot tighter on Boxing Day.

Watch Every Game of the 21/22 NBL Season Live & On-Demand with ESPN on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial >

Melbourne extended a four-point halftime advantage to win 82-68 at the final buzzer.

Nigerian Olympian Caleb Agada shot 20 points-plus for the third successive match, posting 24, closely followed by his captain Chris Goulding (20), who is closing in on 600 three-pointers for the club.

United’s win made it three in a row for the defending champions after they dropped their first two matches to the Kings and South East Melbourne Phoenix.

With injuries mounting for the Kings, former NBA forward Jarell Martin followed his 24 points and 11 rebounds in the Kings’ win over Tasmania Jackjumpers with another 19 points and seven rebounds.

United faces the JackJumpers on New Years Day for its next match. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)

Goulding closes in on 600

Less than a fortnight after Steph Curry broke the NBA’s all-time three-point record, Goulding is nearing a bit of history of his own at Melbourne United.

The 33-year-old took a quarter to warm into his work on Sunday, going pointless in the first term, but three-from-three from the arc in the second quarter shot the Australian Boomer into action with five threes for the game in total. He is now just one shy of 600 three-point buckets for United, over 300 more than any other player.

Both sides bring the physicality

There was not a lot of Christmas spirit being shared on court between the Sydney Kings and Melbourne United on Boxing Day, with physicality a feature of the clash.

“I’m not sure I’ve seen a more physical game this season,” said former Australian Boomer and Sydney King Shane Heal on ESPN’s coverage.

“The amount of body contact, we’ve seen off the ball … it’s been consistent.”

Bayles looked in agony. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)

Injury woes add up for Kings

The Kings cannot take a trick on the injury front, with 19-year-old Biwali Bayles rolling his right ankle in the final quarter.

His injury concerns add to American imports Jaylen Adams and RJ Hunter, who are sidelined with ankle and knee injuries. NBL Next Star Makur Maker is also set for several weeks on the sidelines with bone stress to his left ankle and centre Jordan Hunter has already been ruled out for the season after foot surgery.