The Sydney Kings have emphatically broken their recent hoodoo against the Illawarra Hawks, delivering a commanding 98-71 victory at Wollongong's WIN Entertainment Centre on Sunday, November 16, 2025.
This significant win marks Sydney's first triumph in seven attempts against a Hawks team coached by Justin Tatum. The 27-point margin represents the Kings' second-largest winning margin over the Hawks in Wollongong, only surpassed by their 105-85 victory in Game 2 of the 2005 grand final.
Hawks Coach Laments Lack of Competitiveness
Illawarra coach Justin Tatum expressed profound disappointment with his team's performance, particularly given their week of preparation following two previous strong showings. Tatum described his team's lack of competitiveness as his "biggest disappointment" with the performance.
"We had a whole week to prepare, and coming off two really good games, I expected more out of the boys, and they didn't really perform," Tatum said. The coach specifically called out his starting group, who collectively committed 16 turnovers despite boasting 12 championship rings between them.
Kings Dominate From Start to Finish
The Kings established control early, building a commanding 53-32 lead by halftime. This 21-point advantage marked Sydney's largest ever half-time lead against the Hawks in a 40-minute NBL game.
Although the Hawks showed brief signs of life with a 9-0 run early in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 53-41, Kings coach Brian Goorjian's strategic timeout halted their momentum. Kout Noi, celebrating his 100th NBL game for Sydney, immediately responded with a three-pointer, while Tyler Robertson followed with back-to-back threes to restore the Kings' dominance.
Missing key players Matthew Dellavedova (illness) and Shaun Bruce (injured), the Kings received crucial contributions from their bench. Tyler Robertson stepped up with 14 points, including 4 from 7 from three-point range, while Hunter Goodrick added 8 points as Sydney's bench outscored Illawarra's 40-22.
Key Performers and Milestone Moments
The Kings demonstrated excellent scoring distribution, with four players reaching double figures. Kendric Davis led all scorers with 17 points, supported by a balanced team effort.
For the Hawks, Will 'Davo' Hickey stood out with 19 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists in his 100th NBL game. Tyler Harvey contributed 18 points, while QJ Peterson added 10. The game also marked veteran Todd Blanchfield's 450th career NBL appearance.
However, the night proved forgettable for former NBA champion JaVale McGee, who fouled out with 8:44 remaining in the fourth quarter. The 37-year-old finished with 9 points, 9 rebounds, and five turnovers in just 21 minutes of court time.
The loss drops Illawarra to a 4-7 record as they face crucial upcoming matches against Adelaide and Melbourne United. Tatum emphasized the need for immediate improvement, noting his team's tendency to underperform after extended breaks.
"I like more games and short-term memory to go play the next one," Tatum said, looking ahead to their busy schedule.
