ONE of the biggest rivalries in the National Basketball League (NBL) added another chapter last night, with the Illawarra Hawks taking down the Sydney Kings by eight points at the Qudos Bank Arena. With the two sides building a heated competition over recent years (which was furthered throughout the week with accusations of spying and resulted in an on-court scuffle), this was one of the most anticipated clashes of the round.

In what was a close contest for much of the match, the Hawks were able to hold on to the slight lead they were able to build in the second and third terms. With both sides expected to do well for the upcoming season, this looks to be a battle that will entertain fans as the season rolls on. In this article, we take a look at some of the crucial team and player statistics from the match that likely had an effect on the result of the match.

Team Stats

The Hawks were able to make the most of the extra opportunities they gave themselves by working hard on the defensive end of the court. The most important statistic in the end was the dominance by Illawarra in the steals department. The team recorded a whopping 13 for the match, which resulted in seven extra field goals made which was ultimately the difference and had a huge impact on the final result on the match. The Kings were able to find their way to the free throw line more than their opponents, which ultimately kept them in the contest, however their lack of care with the ball in hand saw them slowly lose a grip on the contest with the Hawks ruthless in their punishment of these mistake.

Top Points Scorers

Leading all-comers was Illawarra Hawks recruit and Boomer Reath, who has impressed in his first two games for the club. The big man backed up his 19-point debut performance with 27 points against the Kings in a clear best-on performance. He rarely wasted his opportunities with ball in hand, making 12 of his 17 field goal attempts as he continues his remarkable start to his time in the league. Teammate Cleveland was also damaging, with the import dropping 19 points of his own as he resumes his hot start to the season after an inconsistent NBL Blitz campaign. For the Kings, Glover battled hard all night on his way to a team-high 16 points.