Tensions between the clubs were already simmering after a private pre-season scrimmage where Illawarra accused Sydney of using illegal tactics to defend JaVale McGee.<\/p>\n
That accusation prompted Sydney Kings assistant coach Andrew Bogut to fire back on social media, saying, \u201cIf there was a tad bit of journalistic research you would have found you have a Sydney Kings player who is playing for an NBL contract (and playing with 110% effort) and trying to make a roster, playing against a guy who was clearly tired.\u201d<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/poster-fallback.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n
When asked whether that incident adds heat to this matchup, Rosen didn\u2019t hesitate: \u201cAny time these two teams play against each other there are sparks. The incident earlier in the year only adds to the drama. Bring on tip-off.\u201d<\/p>\n
Copeland echoed that sentiment bluntly: \u201cThese two teams hate each other. Kings think they\u2019re the best team in NSW, but the Hawks think otherwise.\u201d<\/p>\n
36ers 2nd after ending losing streak | 01:00<\/p>\n
MATCHUPS EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK<\/p>\n
This clash is stacked with compelling head-to-head battles. McGee\u2019s showdown with Xavier Cooks and Tim Soares headlines the frontcourt duel, while the unofficial Grand Final MVP Will Hickey takes on the official winner Mathew Dellavedova. Tyler Harvey versus Kendric Davis adds another layer of offensive firepower.<\/p>\n
Asked which matchup matters most, Lowery didn\u2019t hesitate:<\/p>\n
\u201cPit Bul Kuol v Tyler Harvey. Bul\u2019s in my all defensive team and he\u2019s gonna try and maul Harvey.\u201d<\/p>\n
Copeland identified two equally decisive battles:<\/p>\n
\u201cKey match-ups will be KD vs Dave Hickey \u2026. Both guys will need to score and assist if their teams are to get a win.<\/p>\n
Also JaVale McGee vs Xavier Cooks. Cooks has found his feet, they\u2019ve put the ball in his hands more and he\u2019s responded.\u201d<\/p>\n
WOLLONGONG, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 13: Xavier Cooks of the Kings and JaVale McGee of the Hawks pose during a NBL Media Opportunity, on November 13, 2025 in Wollongong, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe\/Getty Images for NBL)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
This game won\u2019t solely be determined by the stars though. Both teams possess genuine depth and complementary pieces. Sydney\u2019s Jaylin Galloway, Kouat Noi and Bul Kuol have all played impactful minutes, while Illawarra\u2019s rotation of Wani Swaka Lo Buluk, Mason Peatling and Todd Blanchfield gives Justin Tatum plenty of versatility.<\/p>\n
Copeland singled out one King in particular:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe one player who can change this game is Kouat Noi, we all know he shoots the 3-ball better than most\u2026 seems to have found his eye.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rosen also highlighted the tactical battle:<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the Kings can play a bit of small ball which potentially causes a miss match Problem for the Hawks, but on the other end the pick and roll can be so destroying for the Hawks.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m sure the Kings will have some plans to double so it is a key that the Hawks shoot the ball well.\u201d<\/p>\n
“We will pray for him” – Lash on Prather | 02:32<\/p>\n
CAN THE KINGS SLOW DOWN JAVALE MCGEE?<\/p>\n
McGee has been one of the NBL\u2019s most dominant players this season, averaging 23.1 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.8 blocks on 62%. Lowery believes one factor is critical:<\/p>\n
\u201cit\u2019s vitally important that Tim Soares stays out of foul trouble and plays at least 28 min.\u201d<\/p>\n
Copeland added:<\/p>\n
\u201cMcGee has the size on most teams, he\u2019s been a dominant force all year. Kings will struggle to guard him.\u201d<\/p>\n
On the other side, Kendric Davis continues to evolve as a scorer, averaging 23.1 points to go with 4.1 assists and 4.2 rebounds. With his usage shifting, he has become even harder to contain.<\/p>\n
Lowery expects Illawarra to challenge him with a different look:<\/p>\n
\u201cWani Swaka Lo Boluk will likely get the KD assignment, if he can contain that plutonic dude, it\u2019ll go a long way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Justin Tatum is 6-0 against the Kings since taking over at Illawarra. Combined with the pre-season tensions and the Hawks\u2019 recent surge, the WIN Entertainment Centre is set to explode for their first meeting of the season.<\/p>\n
Breakers dominate Bullets amidst injury | 01:16<\/p>\n
KEYS TO THE GAME<\/p>\n
For Illawarra, everything once again revolves around their new dynamic duo \u2013 Hickey and McGee. Since returning, Hickey has reshaped the Hawks\u2019 offence into a more controlled, tempo-based attack. His chemistry with McGee in the pick-and-roll has unlocked easier looks and moved the Hawks away from static post-ups.<\/p>\n
Defensively, limiting Sydney\u2019s three-point attempts and slowing their transition game will be essential. The latter could be a challenge for McGee, who at times has struggled with up-tempo opponents.<\/p>\n
For Sydney, allowing their stars to play freely is key. Cooks has rediscovered his rhythm with more playmaking responsibility, driving their recent three-game win streak. Davis\u2019 shift toward primary scorer has also paid dividends, and his confidence continues to grow.<\/p>\n
Turnovers will be a major factor. The Hawks are the worst in the league at 14.2 per game, while the Kings are the best at just 8.1. If Illawarra coughs it up early, Sydney will punish them.<\/p>\n
Rebounding shapes as another deciding metric. The Hawks sit second in the league, the Kings sixth, but both are strong on both ends. The team that controls the glass will likely control the tempo.<\/p>\n
Finally, three-point shooting \u2013 the teams rank fourth and fifth in percentage \u2013 will matter. The side that generates cleaner looks from deep should gain the upper hand.<\/p>\n
Dominant 4th Qtr leads Wildcats to win | 01:22<\/p>\n
PICKS BY THE EXPERTS<\/p>\n
With Sydney on a three-game winning streak and Illawarra on two straight, this matchup is as difficult to pick as any this season.<\/p>\n
Brad Rosen:<\/p>\n
\u201cTatum has never lost to Goorj so very difficult but I just think that defence from the Kings will be the difference and they will get the win.\u201d<\/p>\n
Damon Lowery:<\/p>\n
\u201cHawks win, Tatum is 6-0 against the Kings. It should be a high scoring affair and a close result. Hawks by 5.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lanard Copeland:<\/p>\n
\u201cthis game is in Illawarra, but the Kings will have plenty of fans there. My edge is to the Hawks as they look much better with Hickey and Peterson both playing great.\u201d<\/p>\n
What\u2019s certain is this: it\u2019s the must-watch game of Round 9.<\/p>\n
Tip-off: 2:30PM AEDT Sunday 16 November at WIN Entertainment Centre.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Illawarra Hawks and Sydney Kings share a rivalry unlike almost anything else in the NBL. Ahead of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":283796,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[557],"tags":[163973,64,63,689,163970,97784,163984,163981,163977,163969,139270,163971,158047,11848,163964,2105,163974,7492,163983,163979,35466,160641,163966,60457,130347,163967,163968,163961,590,673,677,97742,163982,163972,163978,160639,160630,163963,163980,1314,85,163988,68128,163962,163987,30194,163986,163965,163960,100661,163976,163985,163975,660,4526,39979],"class_list":["post-283795","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nba","tag-andrew-bogut","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-australia-and-new-zealand","tag-chris-goulding-joining-fox-sports-news","tag-cleaner-looks","tag-damon-lowery","tag-dave-hickey","tag-deciding-metric","tag-defensive-team","tag-dominant-force","tag-dominant-players","tag-dynamic-duo","tag-entertainment-centre","tag-frontcourt-duel","tag-getty-images-inc","tag-hawks-win","tag-hawthorn-hawks","tag-illawarra","tag-illegal-tactics","tag-javale-mcgee","tag-joshua-higgins","tag-lanard-copeland","tag-mark-metcalfe","tag-mason-peatling","tag-media-personality","tag-miss-match","tag-must-watch-game","tag-nba","tag-new-south-wales","tag-oceania","tag-offensive-firepower","tag-official-winner","tag-pit-bul","tag-playmaking-responsibility","tag-point-display","tag-quarter-display","tag-respective-winning-streaks","tag-scoring-affair","tag-social-media","tag-sports","tag-static-post-ups","tag-stu-lash","tag-teams-hate","tag-three-game-win-streak","tag-three-game-winning-streak","tag-tim-soares","tag-todd-blanchfield","tag-transition-game","tag-tyler-harvey","tag-up-tempo-opponents","tag-usage-shifting","tag-v-tyler","tag-victoria","tag-wollongong","tag-xavier-cooks"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/283795","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=283795"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/283795\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/283796"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=283795"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=283795"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=283795"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}