Hawks' nightmare season ends on Friday the 13th

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Perhaps fittingly, Illawarra's title defense crashed out on Friday the 13th as a horror start to the season had the Hawks fighting for its life from the first game of the season.

Injuries, roster imbalance and its championship core gone made it a struggle a season after all of those intangibles were rock solid.

Arch-rivals Sydney Kings (22-9) smashed the Hawks (11-20) 120-94 at WIN Entertainment Centre on the back of MVP candidate Kendric Davis's 24 points extending the Kings' winning streak to nine games.

Key Details

• Round: 21
• Result: Sydney Kings 120 def. Illawarra Hawks 94
• When: Friday, 13th February 2026
• Where: WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Kendric Davis (Sydney Kings) starred with 24 points, 5 rebounds, 9 assists and 3 steals in 25 minutes.
• Tyler Harvey (Illawarra Hawks) scored 16 points, 1 rebound, 5 assists in 26 minutes.

What Happened

The Kings established their dominance from tip-off, racing to a commanding 15-5 lead within the opening five minutes behind stellar play from Kendric Davis and Jaylin Galloway. Sydney's blistering start saw them put 34 points on the board in the first quarter, highlighted by Xavier Cooks' thunderous two-handed slam that energised the visitors. The Hawks managed just 19 points in response, setting the tone for what would become a comprehensive defeat at their home venue.

Sydney maintained their aggressive approach throughout the first half, with Davis orchestrating the offense masterfully. The MVP candidate recorded 19 points, six assists and three steals by half-time, showcasing the efficiency that has made him a frontrunner for league honours alongside Bryce Cotton. Despite the Hawks' best efforts to stay within striking distance, the Kings held a comfortable 58-46 advantage at the break.

The third quarter proved pivotal as Illawarra mounted their most sustained challenge. The Hawks twice cut the deficit to just four points midway through the period, threatening to make the contest competitive. However, Tyler Robertson provided the crucial response off the bench, draining a pair of crucial triples that steadied Sydney's ship and prevented any momentum shift. Robertson's timely intervention helped the Kings maintain control and set up a dominant final quarter.

Davis's exceptional performance epitomised Sydney's all-round team effort. The import point guard shot an efficient 6-from-14 from the field, including 3-from-8 from downtown, while converting 9-from-10 from the charity stripe. His 24 points extended his streak of 20-plus point games to eight consecutive contests in his ongoing MVP battle with Cotton. The depth that has become Sydney's trademark was on full display, with seven players reaching double figures including Robertson's 17 points, Tim Soares' 16 points and Kouat Noi's 14 points.

With this comprehensive victory, Sydney moved to 22-9 and climbed back to the top of the NBL standings ahead of Adelaide on percentage. The Kings' ninth consecutive win has them perfectly positioned for a strong finals campaign. For the Hawks at 11-20, their slim finals hopes were effectively extinguished, needing to win their remaining two games by significant margins while relying on other results. The 4-0 season sweep completed by Sydney put the final nail in Illawarra's championship defence coffin.