Hawks go down in season opener

The Illawarra Hawks opened their NBL24 season in front of a beltering crowd, losing to the Sydney Kings 96-81. 

The Kings were without another star import in DJ Hogg, but Kouat Noi stepped up with 23 points from 6-of-8 shooting from downtown.

Jaylin Galloway contributed 18 points and five steals, Denzel Valentine eight points, 10 assists and seven rebounds, and Next Star Alex Toohey eight points, five boards and three steals.

Daniel Grida provided a spark for the Hawks with 14 points and seven rebounds in 14 minutes with co-captain Sam Froling adding 12 points and 11 boards.

If they are to beat a team like Sydney, they need more from import trio Tyler Harvey (19 points, three steals), Justin Robinson (12 points, four assists) and Gary Clark (seven points, seven rebounds).

Despite the Kings making a flying 8-2 start when Adams hit a triple, it remained a tight contest until the visitors began to pull away late in the first half.

A pair of three balls to Noi on his way to 14 first-half points, and then another to Jonah Bolden, lifted Sydney to a 51-39 lead with the Kings continuing to have the answers every time Illawarra mounted a challenge.

Sydney answered an 8-0 Hawks run with 10 straight points of their own, and when Valentine hit a second three-pointer in quick succession the lead was out to 18.

Illawarra did stay in touch and it was an important seven quick points from Grida before three-quarter time, but Sydney kept responding to open the season with the 15-point win.

The Hawks next play Phoenix on Saturday 7 October, tipping off at 5:30pm.