AAP


The Wollongong Hawks have moved one step closer to securing a NBL playoff spot after prevailing 81-74 against arch-rivals the Sydney Kings on Friday in the battle for third place.


The Kings crept within six points in the final two minutes, but steady free-throw shooting from Larry Davidson down the stretch allowed the Hawks to claim the vital clash which should be enough to get them into the finals, with one regular-season game remaining for both teams.


Adris Deleon gave the Hawks a vital surge in the second quarter, when he poured in nine of his 25 points as Wollongong grasped control of the game.


Oscar Forman had three timely triples as part of his 15 points, while Malcolm Grant helped settle Wollongong's early nerves by calmly and instantly producing off the bench for 10 points in 21 minutes.


Darnell Lazare looked dangerous early, but slowed on his way to 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Tom Garlepp and James Harvey each added 12 points.


Both teams started the game tight, with Wollongong finding early production from the free-throw line for eight of their first 10 points, while Lazare troubled the Hawks for six points to push Sydney ahead 20-18 at quarter-time.


The Kings led by five early in the second, before Deleon came to life with an aggressive coast-to-coast drive to spark a Hawks run and capping the 9-0 spurt with a three-pointer.


Dave Gruber provided a trio of late buckets as the recipient of some slick interior passes, before six straight points from Grant put the Hawks up 42-35 at the half.


Sydney briefly pulled within four, before the Hawks used four long-range bombs to rattle the Kings with Deleon capping the 14-3 flurry with a high-arching baseline fade-away.


Moments later, Coenraad's triple opened up a 20-point buffer, the Hawks then holding on through two more long-range strikes from Deleon and Forman to stand strong at 69-49 with 10 minutes to play.


Despite absorbing another long-range bomb from Forman and racking up four quick fouls, Sydney mustered a stirring run to get within six and keep the Hawks on their toes.