IT MAY not have been the result the Sydney Kings were looking for as they fell to Melbourne United, but Cameron Oliver‘s bounce back performance would have been encouraging.

United hosted the Kings at John Cain Arena on Thursday night, kicking off the action for Round 7 of the 2024/25 National Basketball League (NBL) season in a huge clash. Both sides are considered major players in the race for the championship, but have been in different bouts of form, with United coming off two impressive wins while the Kings sustained a pair of losses the week prior.

It was a tight contest throughout the match, with not much separating the two sides heading into the dying stages of the game. Ultimately, the defining plays of the clash came from Jack White, who knocked down a pair of three-pointers in the clutch and pulled down a vital defensive rebound to seal the win for Melbourne.

Although the Kings were not able to get the job done, Oliver’s resilient performance in the face of recent criticism was one of the biggest positives for the winning side.

Melbourne United (87) def. Sydney Kings (83)

Cam Oliver – 18 points, 16 rebounds, two assists, one steal

It was an enormous performance from Oliver, who certainly bounced back after a quiet couple of weeks that was reflective of his side’s performance.

The big man had struggled to make an impact in both of Sydney’s losses last week, and it certainly felt like the Kings were missing his physical presence in each of those two outings.

However, he returned to form in emphatic fashion against Melbourne, proving to be the best player on the floor across four quarters and nearly dragging his side over the line in enemy territory.

Oliver poured in a game-high 18 points on 8/18 shooting from the field, looking much more aggressive in his hunt for the bottom of the net. He used his strength in the literal sense to get good looks underneath the hoop, and could punish the opposition for doubling his teammates.

The athletic import was also a monster on the glass, pulling down 16 boards for the match which was also clearly a game-high figure. He did most of his work on the defensive end, recording 15 defensive rebounds and making sure the opposition could not generate second-chance scores.

It was a huge showing from a player that has shown performances of this calibre in the past, and if Oliver can continue to produce big numbers off the bench, then it will not be long before the Kings are back on the winners’ list.