How to watch & talking points: Illawarra v Sydney

Illawarra Hawks v Sydney Kings
Thursday, October 22, 7.30pm AEDT
WIN Entertainment Centre

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How to watch

Watch every NBL27 game live on ESPN.

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Tickets

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How to follow & live scores

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Rosters

Illawarra

Expected depth chart:
PG: M.Doyle (IP) / Hickey / Adnam (NRP)
SG: Harvey / Narkle
SF: Swaka Lo Buluk / Grida / Patterson (IP/NRP) / Blanchfield
PF: Martin (IP) / Days (IP) / A.Doyle (DP) / McGregor (DP) / Peatling (out)
C: Froling / Maker / Macdonald (DP)

Sydney

Expected depth chart:
PG: Davis (IP) / Johnston / Hanson (DP)
SG: Maluach / Robertson / Stone / Dellavedova (out)
‍SF: Craig (IP) / Bofinger (NRP)
PF: Cooks / Machar (DP)
C: Carr (IP/NRP) / Wessels / Spurgin / Leaupepe (out)

Missing in action

Illawarra

Mason Peatling - Foot - Season

Sydney

Matthew Dellavedova - Calf - Round 7
Keli Leaupepe - ACL - Season

>> View full injury list

Talking points

Encore opportunity

The Hawks are back on the winners’ list after heading down to Melbourne last week and beating United on their home floor.

While it was a much-needed win for the Hawks’ season, they now quickly turn their attention to their oldest rival in the Sydney Kings and will be hoping to replicate the performance.

Justin Tatum was pleased with the way his team responded on Sunday after a slow start to the season, but now the job is about backing it up and stringing wins together.

Back-to-back wins over Melbourne and Sydney could catapult the Hawks’ season forward.

Supporting cast shining

There was a lot of talk in the off-season about the lack of depth for the Sydney Kings, after some key departures from their championship-winning roster.

However, through five rounds, it’s been Makuach Maluach and rookie guard Will Johnston who are relishing the extra opportunity and responsibility.

Maluach is living up to the hype that saw him become one of the most sought-after free agents, before Sydney put pen to paper.

Meanwhile, Johnston has come in and carved out a crucial role off the bench for Brian Goorjian.