Hawks and Kings on ANZAC Day weekend highlights latest NBL schedule change

The NBL has announced a revised schedule for Rounds 12-14 of the 2020-21 Hungry Jack’s NBL Season.

The changes were made following the announcement of a three-day lockdown in Brisbane and the resulting border closures.

The Illawarra Hawks fixture has been completely overhauled in the wake of the COVID scare in Brisbane - with an array of new opponents heading to Wollongong over the coming weeks.

The marquee matchup will no doubt be an ANZAC Day eve clash with fierce rivals the Sydney Kings on Saturday 24 April.

It will be the third 'Freeway Series' clash between big brother and little brother - with the rivalry revving up in 2021 on the back of an improved Hawks roster already handing the Kings a pair of losses so far this season.

It starts with a matchup with the SE Melbourne Phoenix on Thursday 1 April. The Phoenix have had the Hawks measure so far in 2021 - with coach Brian Goorjian labelling them his side's 'bogey team'.

The Hawks will then clash with the Brisbane Bullets on Wednesday 7 April in what will be the fifth time the two side's have met this year.

The Phoenix will return to Wollongong again on Friday 9 April - before the Hawks tackle the Cairns Taipans in some Sunday arvo hoops on Sunday 11 April.

Hawks Co-Owner and President, Dorry Kordahi, said the ANZAC weekend clash with the Kings would be a special night for Hawks fans.

"We all know how significant ANZAC Day is and it's a privilege to be involved in a special clash on the eve of such a momentous day for our country. We love to hate the Kings. They are both our closest and fiercest rival so it would be great to fill the WIN Entertainment Centre and show them we have the best fans in the state and that we are the only NSW team capable of contending for the title this year," Kordahi said.

"The league has had to overcome a lot of issues just to get our players on the court this season and everytime it has been met with a challenge, it has adjusted and delivered games to fans around the country. This is no different - and we can't wait to keep delivering an exciting game day experience for our loyal fan base" Kordahi said.

The Hawks also have a different away schedule to contend with.

We are still slated to take on Adelaide on Saturday 3 April at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre in Round 12, but are no longer heading to the Apple Isle to face the Breakers.

Instead the side will have arguably the two toughest tests the NBL home-and-away season can throw at a side in back-to-back Round 14 clashes.

Firstly we have a matchup at RAC Arena with the ladder-leading Wildcats on Friday 16 April - followed by a trip to Melbourne to tackle Melbourne United on Sunday 18 April.

The NBL will continue to monitor the situation across Australia and will be guided by the advice of the relevant health authorities over the coming days and weeks.

General public tickets for our 'Triple Threat' of home games against the Bullets, Phoenix and Taipans will go on sale at 2pm Wednesday 31 April.