NBL MVP candidate Xavier Cooks’ allround brilliance has helped the ladder-leading Sydney Kings overcome a fright to defeat the last-placed Illawarra Hawks 86-79 in Wollongong.
Captain Cooks (21 factors, 9 rebounds) was the one King to fireside a shot early on Friday evening because the Hawks burst out of the blocks, earlier than producing a collection of clutch performs to dent the house aspect’s late problem.
Tyler Harvey’s stepback triple trimmed Sydney’s result in 81-79 with two minutes to play earlier than Cooks snared an enormous defensive rebound which resulted in an unsportsmanlike foul on Deng Deng.
The Kings skipper then drilled a bullet cross to Shaun Bruce for a three-point play with 15 seconds left, and at last drew a cost in opposition to Peyton Siva within the closing phases.
Harvey (19 factors) and Siva (15) led the cost for the Hawks, who held sway by 10 factors early within the second time period, trailed by 11 within the fourth and solely misplaced their grip on the sport within the final two minutes.
The Kings’ defence was non-existent early, angering coach Chase Buford who known as a time-out and instructed his prices: “Get back on defence or come sit next to me.”
A ten-0 run both aspect of quarter-time noticed the Hawks flip the anticipated script and pull forward of the Kings 31-21.
Illawarra went ice chilly from the perimeter, lacking 14 straight three-pointers handy the guests the lead.
Cooks scored 10 factors within the third stanza, together with two large dunks, and with the assist of massive Tim Soares (18 factors, 9 boards), Sydney strengthened their grip on the sport.
Their lead swelled to 71-60 on Dejan Vasiljevic’s trey early within the fourth earlier than Harvey piloted a gallant rearguard motion which was in the end corralled by Cooks.
