Becoming the first Sydney side to win 20 games in a 28-game regular season, and with a 12-2 record at home which was also the fifth best in the annals of the franchise, the victory gives Kings a home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.
Packing the stadium to cheer for their team, 11,047 Kings fans also helped add to a home attendance record of 140,168 for the season, an average of 10,012 per game, and obliterating the previous mark of 121,871 set in 1994.
Showing the depth available in the squad, 11 Kings players made the scoresheet, with four in double figures including 19 points each to Casper Ware and Jae’sean Tate, 13 to Brad Newley and 12 to Deshon Taylor.
Returning from injury, both Craig Moller and Andrew Bogut also looked comfortable on the court, scoring four and six points respectively.
As top seed, the Kings will now take on Melbourne United in game one of the semi-finals at Qudos Bank Arena next Saturday, February 29.
Leap into semi-finals
HISTORY was made at Qudos Bank Arena on Friday when the Sydney Kings closed their regular NBL season with a 98-82 win over the Illawarra Hawks.
