Kings too good for Hawks at home

The back-to-back reigning NBL champions slid to 4-3 with consecutive losses ahead of Friday's match but parlayed a 32-18 third-quarter into a gaping victory and a return to the winner's circle.

As they have in recent games, the Hawks were left to rue a period of poor shooting from the field that ultimately left them with too much work to do.

In a six-minute stretch either side of half-time, Illawarra landed only two of 13 field goal attempts just as the Kings were getting their eye in.

The lead ballooned from four points to 20 in this period and reached 26 late on before the Kings put their big names on ice.

In total, Sydney hit 14 shots from downtown to Illawarra's five - just one of the statistical areas dominated by the visitors.

The Kings had six men in double figures for scoring, with Makuach Maluach (16 points, three rebounds) an unlikely hero from the bench while the game was still close.

He shot all of his first six attempts from the field, including four from three-point range, and finished as equal top scorer with import Jaylen Adams, who had seven assists and two steals.

In his second game after a shoulder injury, DJ Hogg (13 points) joined Denzel Valentine as the Kings' most prolific scorer in the decisive third quarter.

Both had eight points for the period including two baskets each from long range as the Kings piled on the pain.

American import Gary Clark (23 points, seven rebounds) was once again a shining light for the Hawks but early foul trouble kept his countryman Justin Robinson (10 points, four assists) quiet until late.

The Kings have now won their last eight games against their cross-town foes.

They have also retained the Adrian Hurley Cup by winning the first two of four regular-season games between the NSW rivals this season.

HUNGRY JACK’S NBL INDIGENOUS ROUND

SYDNEY KINGS 103 (Adams 16, Maluach 16, Hogg 13)

ILLAWARRA HAWKS 83 (Clark 23, Froling 13, Robinson 10)