'Better than our best' Hawks too much for Kings

• Illawarra sweeps season series against NSW rivals Sydney Kings
• Kings star Jaylen Adams ejected in the fourth quarter
• Hawks finish with 20-9 record, punctuate minor premiership

In a fitting finale to their historic regular season, the Illawarra Hawks soared to a commanding 95-75 victory (Game Centre) against NSW rivals Sydney Kings on Friday, February 7, 2025 completing a season sweep and emphatically punctuating their first-ever NBL minor premiership.

The Hawks' relentless energy and depth were on full display at WIN Entertainment Centre, even without import stars Darius Days and Trey Kell III, as they dominated the Kings to finish with a franchise-best 20-9 record.

"We could have laid down today, we could have just sat there and took a break and let Sydney do what they need to do," Hawks coach Justin Tatum said.

"But it wasn't about that. We wanted to make sure that we came out here and played out, and I think we played better than our best."

The match was a tale of two teams heading in opposite directions as the playoffs loom.

Illawarra, having already secured top spot, played with the swagger of champions-elect, outworking and outrunning their NSW rivals from the opening tip.

Their superiority was evident in every facet, from a 19-5 advantage in offensive rebounds to a 23-2 thrashing in fast break points. But it wasn't a true blowout until late in the ball game with Sydney getting within three before the night went from bad to worse for the Kings.

Already missing former MVP Xavier Cooks, their slim hopes of climbing out of fifth place were dashed by a Hawks team firing on all cylinders.

The Kings' frustration boiled over late in the fourth quarter when star guard Jaylen Adams was ejected for poking Wani Swaka Lo Buluk in the face.

The statistics paint a clear picture of Illawarra's dominance. Their 19 offensive rebounds led to 20 second-chance points, while 20 points off turnovers and a 48-30 advantage in points in the paint highlighted their control of the contest.

The Hawks' balanced attack saw five players score in double figures, led by Tyler Harvey and Hyunjung Lee with 15 points apiece.

For Sydney, the defeat was a stark reminder of the gap between themselves and the league's elite. Shooting just 36% from the field and committing 14 turnovers, the Kings struggled to find any rhythm. Kouat Noi and the ejected Adams led the team with 14 points each, but it was far from enough to challenge the Hawks' supremacy.

As the playoffs approach, the two teams face vastly different prospects.

Illawarra enters as the clear favourites, riding high on their regular season success and looking to convert it into postseason glory.

Sydney, meanwhile, must regroup quickly for a do-or-die play-in game against the Adelaide 36ers on Tuesday night, with their season hanging in the balance.

"We are in the playoffs and we've got a game on Wednesday so let's see where it takes us but it was a hard one to swallow tonight," Kings coach Brian Goorjian said.