Sydney Kings flex title credentials against Illawarra

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Brian Goorjian's Sydney Kings are the best team NBL team in NSW and may well be the best team in the league, running over the top of the Illawarra Hawks 122-104 in Round 19 of NBL26 at Qudos Bank Arena on Thursday, January 29, 2026.

Skipper Matthew Dellavedova returned from a concussion, Torrey Craig remains the Kings championship X-Factor, Kendric Davis had a casual 22 points on 5-from-8 from the field, centre Tim Soares led the team with 23 points and Xavier cooks, coming back from an ankle injury, had 15 points off the bench in 20 minutes.

The Kings are now second on the ladder at 19-9 (+273), moving ahead of South East Melbourne Phoenix on percentage.

The Hawks meanwhile need to almost run the table the rest of the way to make the top six. The defending champs are 10-17, two games behind Tasmania JackJumpers at 12-16.

Key Details

• Result: Sydney Kings 122 def. Illawarra Hawks 104
• When: 29th of January 2026
• Where: Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney
• Attendance: 7,740
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Kendric Davis (Sydney Kings) starred with 22 points, three rebounds, nine assists, and one steal in 28 minutes.
• Tim Soares (Sydney Kings) delivered 23 points, six rebounds, one assist, and one steal in 28 minutes.
• Tyler Harvey (Illawarra Hawks) scored 25 points, with one assist, three steals, and five fouls drawn in 31 minutes.
• JaVale McGee (Illawarra Hawks) contributed 17 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and two blocks in 20 minutes.

What Happened

The Sydney Kings asserted their dominance from the outset, establishing a six-point lead after the first quarter (28–22). Their offensive rhythm only improved in the second, outscoring the Hawks 35 to 23 to take a commanding 18-point advantage into half-time. The Kings’ ball movement and ability to convert from outside the arc set the tone, with Kendric Davis orchestrating the offence and Tim Soares providing a reliable scoring option in the paint and from deep.

Illawarra briefly threatened a comeback in the third quarter, outscoring Sydney 29 to 28, but the Kings’ cushion remained substantial. The Hawks managed a nine-point scoring run midway through the third, narrowing the margin to single digits, but a timely three-pointer from Jaylin Galloway at the 2:15 mark halted the surge. Sydney’s response was swift, with Makuach Maluach and Xavier Cooks combining for a flurry of baskets in the paint to restore a double-digit buffer before the final period.

Key plays punctuated the contest, including Davis’ and-one floater with 7:30 remaining in the fourth, pushing the Kings’ lead back to 16 and stifling any Hawks momentum. Tim Soares’ fifth three-pointer, coming at the 5:48 mark in the final quarter, extended the lead to 22, effectively sealing the result. Illawarra’s Tyler Harvey did his best to keep his side competitive, draining four triples and drawing multiple fouls, but Sydney’s defensive rotations limited his impact late in the game.

From a statistical perspective, Sydney’s efficiency was outstanding. The Kings shot 58.4% from the field (45-from-77), including a scorching 53.6% from beyond the arc (15-from-28). Four Kings players finished in double digits, reflecting a true all-round effort. The Hawks, despite a solid 50% field goal percentage (39-from-78), struggled from deep, connecting on just eight-of-28 attempts (28.6%). Sydney also dominated at the charity stripe, converting 17-of-21 free throws (81%).

Turnovers were even at 13 apiece, but Sydney’s ability to convert defensive stops into fast break points proved decisive. The Kings also cleaned the glass, recording 39 rebounds to Illawarra’s 37, with Soares and Maluach particularly active on the boards. Defensively, Sydney’s four steals and three blocks contributed to timely stops, while their spacing and ball movement (30 assists) consistently broke down the Hawks’ defence.

With this win, the Sydney Kings continue their strong run in the NBL, consolidating their position near the top of the standings. The loss leaves the Illawarra Hawks searching for answers as they look to regroup for the next round.