Game Recap: Hawks vs Sydney Kings | RD6 NBL27

Sydney Kings arrived 4-2, with all six of their games so far played at home. Tonight was their first true road test of the season, and the Hawks made sure they felt it early, before Sydney’s class took over to close out a 108-82 win built on a brutal third quarter.

We never found the answer, but Makur Maker gave Hawkheads a genuine reason to stay in their seats, exploding for a new NBL career high in a performance that only grows the kid’s ceiling.

Maker delivers a new career high

Maker was relentless all night, finishing with 24 points on 9 of 12 shooting, 7 rebounds and 3 assists, bettering his previous NBL career high of 23 points and setting a new career high in assists too. He opened the scoring with a floater in the first minute, kept driving all game, and closed with back to back and-one finishes in the fourth quarter including a tough bucket over Andrew Carr. For a Hawk still finding his footing in this league, that is the kind of night that builds belief.

Head Coach Justin Tatum gave credit to Maker's fight inside while pointing to areas for growth:

‍"He competed. He found his ways to get offensive rebounds and some put-backs, some and-ones, and make a three here and there. But, you know, he still—as all of us—has to be better communicating on the defensive end and being in our right spots."

Harvey carries the first half

Tyler Harvey was everywhere early, scoring all 9 Hawks points through the opening stretch of the first quarter including back to back triples, and finishing the half with 15 points on 5 of 10 shooting. Sydney’s defence tightened after the break, holding him to a single field goal attempt in the second term, and he finished with 17 points on 5 of 12 for the game.

Tatum noted:‍

‍"At the end of the day, we've got to find a way to get Tyler going and get shots, or at least have him as a decoy where he can make plays for everybody else."

Blanchfield’s return

Todd Blanchfield made his first appearance at home this season, checking in midway through the second quarter a month on from the wrist injury he suffered in Brisbane back in Round 2. He found his range late, knocking down a three in the fourth quarter among his 8 points for the night. Good to have him back out there.

Where it got away

The third quarter buried the Hawks. Sydney outscored Illawarra 34-16 in the period, turning a manageable five-point halftime gap into a 32-point margin by the final change. The stretch from Maker’s three making it 43-54 to the end of the quarter summed it up, the Hawks managing just 7 points while the Kings piled on 28, with Torrey Craig and Kendric Davis doing the damage from everywhere on the floor.

Fletch gets on the board

With the game decided, development player Fletcher MacDonald checked in for Maker at the 3:33 mark of the fourth and made it count, calmly knocking down a floater for his first NBL career points. A nice moment for a local junior putting in the work on the development path, and the kind of thing Hawkheads notice even in a blowout.

Opposition watch

Kendric Davis ran the show for Sydney with 23 points and 12 assists, and Torrey Craig was red hot all night with 22 points on 8 of 13 shooting including 3 triples. Xavier Cooks enjoyed his return to Wollongong with 12 points in front of family and friends. Andrew Carr pulled down a massive 20 rebounds.

Hawkheads bring the noise

The Sandpit was loud and locked in from tip off, with Hawkheads still buzzing from the road win in Melbourne days earlier. The Brisbane Bullets were in the house too, in town early after their loss in Tasmania the night before, with eyes on Saturday’s clash already.

CMG Midcourt Mayhem

One lucky Hawkhead gave the arena a scare in CMG Midcourt Mayhem, knocking down three shots in a row with 20 seconds still on the clock before letting fly at the big prize. It stayed safe for another week, but it won’t stay safe forever. Register for your chance.

Greater Bank Game MVP

Plenty of candidates tonight. Makur Maker put up a new NBL career high with 24 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists. Tyler Harvey poured in 17 points including 3 triples. Todd Blanchfield made his home return and hit a big fourth quarter three. Cast your vote for the Greater Bank Game MVP below.

Last home game for a month this Saturday

It is a quick turnaround. The Hawks are back at WIN Entertainment Centre on Saturday night for the last time before five games on the road through to 19 November, hosting the Brisbane Bullets at 5.30pm. Grab your seat now through Ticketmaster and send the Hawks off in style before the long road trip begins.

Facing a quick turnaround ahead of Saturday's home clash against Brisbane, Tatum remains resolute

"It's just a process... but I still have a thousand percent faith in this group to be able to bounce back Saturday... We just got to hold the fort down."

HUNGRY JACK’S NBL27 (Boxscore)

‍Illawarra Hawks 82 (Maker 24, Harvey 17, Blanchfield 8)
Sydney Kings 108 (Davis 23, Craig 22, Maluach 13)

Press Conference Presented by Relativity Films

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Highlights

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