NBL: Hawks smother Kings to tighten grip on NBL rivals

The Illawarra’s stranglehold on rivals Sydney under new coach Justin Tatum has been tightened after a tough 86-79 NBL win in Wollongong.

The Hawks frustrated the Kings on Saturday night as they moved to 7-4 to sit third, a vocal crowd enjoying the last laugh after another fierce build-up between the NSW neighbours.

The Kings (7-6) sit fifth after taking 71 shots compared to the Hawks’ 55, but made one less bucket than the hosts, who also attempted 10 more free throws.

Hawks’ South Korean sharpshooter Hyunjung Lee (16 points, four rebounds, two assists) hit his first four three-pointers and didn’t miss a shot until the fourth quarter.

Wani Swaka Lo Buluk (12 points, six rebounds) made timely contributions on both ends, while Sam Froling scored 14 points and Trey Kell (19 points, five assists) earned player-of-the-game honors.

The Hawks led by as many as 19, but faced some resistance late in the third period.

But William Hickey’s chase-down block on Alex Toohey and a Kell three-pointer at the buzzer gave the Hawks a 13-point buffer at the final break.

The visitors came back in the fourth quarter, Kouat Noi hitting a triple and then drawing an offensive foul before Jaylen Adams’ (23 points, six assists, six steals) triple made it a seven-point game down the stretch.

Cam Oliver (16 points, seven rebounds) hauled in a big board and hit the triple to make it a two-point game with three minutes left.

However, Tyler Harvey (13 points) showed up when needed and drilled his three-point attempt to ease the pressure.

Adams kept coming and another triple got them within six in the final minute before Harvey’s free throws and a Swaka Lo Buluk defensive play knotted the game.

It was a frustrating return to his former club for Kings coach Brian Goorjian, while Tatum now boasts a 4-0 record against Sydney – and 11-5 at home – since taking over from the struggling Hawks last year.