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 points, nine rebounds) was the only King to fire a shot early on Friday night as the Hawks burst out of the blocks, before producing a series of clutch plays to dent the home side's late challenge.
