Hawks Coach Tatum Praises Grida and Harvey Despite Loss to Sydney Kings

In a challenging NBL26 season, the Illawarra Hawks faced another setback with a 122-104 defeat against their freeway rivals, the Sydney Kings, during round 19. This loss extends the Hawks' deficit in the freeway series to 2-0, complicating their late-season push for a playoff berth. The game was marked by 13 turnovers from Illawarra, which significantly hindered their efforts to secure a much-needed victory.

Playoff Hopes Dim as Hawks Struggle

With only six games remaining in the regular season, the Hawks now find themselves two wins outside the top six, making their postseason aspirations increasingly precarious. Coach Justin Tatum, however, remains defiant in the face of mounting concerns. "That's what I told to the guys in the locker room ... we don't need to put our head down," Tatum asserted. "We still have opportunities so we've gotta keep building off how we've finished off the last game and get ready for Perth."

Tatum expressed confidence in his team's ability to overcome the odds, stating, "This league is not easy, but I have enough talent in that locker room to push into the top six and make a healthy run." He acknowledged that the Hawks' path to the playoffs is more daunting compared to Tasmania, who are nearly locked into a postseason spot. "Tassie ... are pretty much close to being locked in," Tatum noted. "Everyone is going through speedbumps. They've unfortunately caught the injury bug, and we're trying to build."

Despite the tougher road ahead, Tatum highlighted the advantage of having more games to play, offering additional opportunities to turn their season around. "Our road is a little tougher, but we've got more games [to play], so we have more opportunity to find a way to make it happen," he said. "We just have to find a way."

Standout Performances Amid Defeat

Despite the loss, Coach Tatum singled out two key players for their exceptional contributions. Daniel Grida delivered an energised performance, scoring 17 points and grabbing three rebounds in just 15 minutes of play—nearly triple his season averages in both categories. "[Dan Grida] has been solid," Tatum praised. "You can see what he brings to the table. He's definitely an energy guy who has the ability to knock shots down and put the ball in the basket. We've been using him as much as we can and giving him impact minutes."

Co-captain Tyler Harvey also shone brightly, leading all scorers with 25 points on efficient 7-of-12 shooting. Tatum was unsurprised by Harvey's output, remarking, "That's what he does. It's nothing surprising to see him a lot of points. You know he's a competitor and you know he'll do anything he can to win."

Game Breakdown and Key Moments

The match began with Harvey opening the scoring, but Sydney quickly seized control with an 11-4 lead midway through the first quarter. The Kings maintained their momentum, leading 28-22 at the end of the opening period. Grida's seven-point quarter briefly narrowed the gap to four points, but Sydney's Kendric Davis and Jaylin Galloway combined for 11 points to keep the Hawks at bay.

Illawarra showed signs of resurgence in the second quarter, closing the deficit to a single possession. However, Sydney responded by extending their lead to 12 points. Grida's third foul forced him to the bench for the remainder of the half, further hampering the Hawks' efforts. At halftime, Sydney led 63-45, bolstered by 59% field goal shooting and an 8-of-14 performance from beyond the arc, compared to Illawarra's 4-of-14.

The second half offered little respite for the Hawks. Sydney's Tim Soares dominated with 18 points by the end of the third quarter, while Makuach Maluach added 15 points and six rebounds. Despite Harvey's game-high 25 points and three steals, only Grida and JaVale McGee reached double-digit scoring for Illawarra, with 17 and 10 points respectively.

The final quarter saw a minor altercation between Davis and Lo Buluk, resulting in an unsportsmanlike foul on the Hawk. Davis capitalized with a quick five points, sealing Sydney's 18-point victory and their third consecutive win in the rivalry.

Final Scores:

Illawarra Hawks: Harvey (25), Grida (17), McGee (17), Davo Hickey (15)
Sydney Kings: Soares (23), Davis (22), Maluach (21)

As the Hawks prepare for their remaining fixtures, including an upcoming clash against Perth, Coach Tatum's faith in his squad's talent and resilience will be put to the test. The team's ability to learn from this defeat and harness the energy of players like Grida and Harvey could be crucial in their last-ditch effort to secure a playoff spot.