Game Preview: Hawks vs Sydney Kings | RD6 NBL27

Fresh off our first road win, the Hawks come home hungry to square the Adrian Hurley Cup

Presented by Lower Crown Quarter

The Sandpit is calling, Hawkheads. The reigning champion Sydney Kings roll into WIN Entertainment Centre on Thursday night for round two of the Adrian Hurley Cup. The Hawks are locked in after the kind of win that changes the mood of a season.

Sunday evening at John Cain Arena was pure grit. Makur Maker poured in a career-high 23 and buried the go-ahead three with a minute to play. Milton Doyle iced it at the line with 4.5 seconds left as we held off Melbourne United 91-89 for our first road win of NBL27.

Justin Tatum’s message to the faithful after the game was simple:

“Keep sticking with us, change is coming.” Thursday is the chance to prove it in front of our own.

Cooks Comes Home, Goorjian Returns

Standing in the way is a familiar face on the sideline and another on the floor. One-time Hawks coach Brian Goorjian leads the Kings into the Gong. Illawarra junior Xavier Cooks returns “home”, where he’s always pumped for a big game. Sydney arrive at 4-2 and second on the ladder, but there’s a twist. Every one of their six games so far has been a home game.

Thursday is their first trip on the road this season, and there’s no tougher first stop than a loud crowd if Wollongong. They’ll also be without Matthew Dellavedova, who is sidelined through injury.

It’s the first of two home games in three nights, with the Brisbane Bullets visiting on Saturday.

Grab the 2-game ticket bundle and be there for both.

The Matchup

The Kings lead the Adrian Hurley Cup 1-0.

Sydney took the first clash 121-100 at Afterpay Arena on 27 September. There was plenty in that night worth holding on to:

Kelan Martin dropped 21 points and seven rebounds, a career high at the time. He’s since bettered it with 28 against Adelaide.
Sam Froling matched him with 21 points on 9 of 13 shooting, including 14 by half time on 7 of 8.
Tyler Harvey was red hot from range, going 4 of 5 from three.
Kyle Adnam owned the fourth quarter with 15 of his 17 points, as we won the final term 29-23.

Where it got away:

Sydney won the boards 46-25, including 16 offensive rebounds.
The Kings made 27 of 32 free throws to our 13 of 17.
Kendric Davis led Sydney with 31 points, Torrey Craig added 20, and Makuach Maluach was perfect from the field with 19 on 6 of 6.

Sydney’s season highs for points (121), free throw attempts (32) and free throws made (27) all came against us. That’s a debt the Hawks want repaid.

Scouting the Kings

Torrey Craig: Craig is averaging 17.0 points and 6.3 rebounds, and he’s on a tear. He dropped 28 against the Breakers and 26 against the Wildcats in Sydney’s last two games. He’s dangerous from deep and hit seven threes against New Zealand. Wherever he goes, a Hawk has to be attached.

Makuach Maluach: Maluach has been scorching. He’s averaging 15.8 points on 74.0 per cent from the field and 62.5 per cent from three. He went a perfect 6 of 6 against us last time. Closing out hard on him is non-negotiable.

Will Johnston: The Rookie Who Burned Us. The rookie made his mark against us in Round 2 with 14 points on 5 of 6 shooting, 2 of 2 from three, four rebounds and four assists. That was nearly double his season average of 7.7 points. He’s knocking down 58.3 per cent of his threes in under 14 minutes a night.

Also on the radar: Kendric Davis runs the show with 22.8 points and 7.5 assists a game, and his season-high 31 came against us. Xavier Cooks is shooting 64.7 per cent from the field with 6.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks. As a team, the Kings lead the league in scoring (101.0) and field goal percentage (50.3), but they’ve dropped two of their last four.

Keys to Victory

Win the War on the Glass: A 46-25 rebounding loss last time tells the story. Sydney average 44.7 boards a game to our 38.4 and lead the league in defensive rebounds. Froling (7.3 a game), Maker and Martin and co have to crash, box out and finish every possession.

Defend Without Fouling: The Kings made 14 more free throws than us in Round 2. Across the season we’re making 8.5 fewer free throws a game than our opponents. Sydney commit the fewest fouls in the league (16.5), and we commit the second most (20.5). Move the feet, keep the hands up and make them earn every point from the floor.

Perimeter Lockdown: Craig and Maluach are both firing from deep, and Johnston will make you pay for sagging off. Run the Kings off the line and make them finish over our length inside.

Bring Melbourne Home: That 35-16 second quarter at John Cain Arena was as good as we’ve played all season. On Sunday we forced 18 turnovers, collected 10 steals and moved the ball for 21 assists. This is how we win.

We lead the league in points in the paint (50.3), fast break points (16.8) and bench points (42.8), and we’re second in scoring (98.6) and assists (21.8). Pressure the ball, push the pace, attack the rim and let our depth wear Sydney down in front of a roaring Sandpit.

Two Games, One Seat

Buy the Kings, get the Bullets half price. The 2-game bundle locks in the same seat at WIN Entertainment Centre for both nights of our home double.

What It Costs

Ruby

Lowest price

$49 Adult, for two games That's $24.50 a game

Concession
$40

Junior (4 to 16)
$40

Family 2 adults, 2 juniors

$140

$17.50 a person, a game
Ruby Plus

$75 Adult, for two games That's $37.50 a game

Concession
$60

Junior (4 to 16)
$60

Family 2 adults, 2 juniors

$230

$28.75 a person, a game
Opal Plus

$120 Adult, for two games That's $60 a game

Concession
$105

Junior (4 to 16)
$105

Family 2 adults, 2 juniors

$360

$45 a person, a game

Every price covers both games at WIN Entertainment Centre: Thursday 22nd October v Sydney Kings and Saturday 24th October v Brisbane Bullets. One ticket per seat gets you into both.

Get your 2-Game Bundle (opens in a new tab)

Lock in your seat now, because bundle seats come from a limited block.

Step Onto the Court

Ever wondered what it’s like on the court before a game? Thursday is your first chance this season to find out.

Our Warm-Up Court Walk puts you right in the middle of the action while the Hawks warm up. Grab a high five and get a selfie from centre court, as close as it gets to game night.

Price: $55 per person
Game ticket: Required as well
Under 16s: Must be with an adult

Can’t make Thursday? The Court Walk is also running on Saturday against the Bullets.

Book your Court Walk

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