The NBL's millionaires held a spirited challenge from its paupers as Sydney beat Wollongong 106-99 at WIN Entertainment Centre.

The Hawks, a club facing an uphill financial battle to remain in the league, were eventually undone by a Kings side that showed too much poise in the final minutes.

The win, set up by the contributions of import forward Isiah Victor (24 points) and forward Mark Worthington (22), was the table-topping Kings' 19th of the season.

The Kings put their foot down from the opening whistle.

They jumped all over the Hawks, taking a 24-6 lead on the back of some costly Wollongong turn overs and their own potent offence.

The Hawks showed signs of life early in the second term, reducing a 16-point quarter-time deficit to 10 on the back of some inspired play by recent signing Aaron Trahair.

Trahair, who was surplus to requirements in Perth, had 10 points in 11 first half minutes.

Sydney responded to Wollongong's challenge by getting their lead back to 18 points on the back of Glen Saville's first basket of the night.

Saville, who spent the first 13 seasons of his career with Wollongong before joining their arch enemy, finished with just five points but still left as a winner.

The lead was a comfortable 15 points at the break with all signs pointing towards Sydney cruising to a win.

The desperate Hawks didn't follow that script, closing the deficit to six by the end of the third quarter.

Despite their best efforts they never hit the lead.

Kings coach Brian Goorjian paid tribute to Wollongong's fighting qualities.

"They have tenacity and a closeness about them," he said.

"We have caught them twice since the emotion has kicked in, I thought we would be in a fight here."

Goorjian also praised his own troops.

"We are 19-2 for a reason, I haven't had a team that has played like this game in and game out," he said.

Hawks coach Eric Cooks refused to comment on the match officials that handed the Kings a 26-15 advantage in the foul count and sent them to the free throw line 25 more times.

"The first quarter let us down, against the best team in the competition, you can't give them a lead like that."

Cooks could only manage a smile when asked if he now understood how the Indian cricket team felt after their dramas in the recent Test match.

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