BASKETBALL
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If the Hawks are going to exact revenge on Adelaide in Friday night's Heritage Week duel in Wollongong, they will have to neutralise the NBL's new Mr Clutch.
American guard Jamar Wilson carried the 36ers in crunch time against Wollongong on Sunday, sucking the Hawks into fouls and sinking pressure free throws to clinch an 83-78 victory. He finished with a game-high 27 points, making 14/15 foul shots.
Two nights earlier the 30-year-old drained 8/8 free throws and tallied 19 points in his team's crucial victory over Perth.
The previous week against Melbourne he scored 15 points in the fourth period, inspiring the Sixers to an improbable victory after they trailed by 12 at three-quarter time.
Wilson has battled injuries since the opening round in October but appears to be peaking at the right end of the season.
"We're coming into form and we're starting to gel together, and guys are standing up at different instances," he said after Sunday's defeat of the Hawks.
"That makes it better for our team and I was just fortunate enough to get fouled and make some plays down the stretch.
"Our last three games have been like that and it's good for us to win these games because we are playing solid basketball and executing down the stretch, which is really important."
Defensive-minded Hawks guard Tyson Demos hasn't played a lot this season, but coach Gordie McLeod might decide to give him more court time on Friday if he needs someone to get in Wilson's face.
Away from basketball, Demos and partner Anthea de Vet are expecting their first child in July.