The one versus two contest was played at finals intensity with Hawks star Rotnei Clarke spearheading a second-half boilover that also secured a 3-1 series win.

With the 36rs having already sewn up first spot it won’t impact their home final schedule but it will see the Hawks take a psychological advantage into a possible play-offs showdown that would be mouth-watering for fans given what thy turned on three week out.

Clarke had 20 of his 25 points, at 6-10 from three-point range, in a second half that saw nine lead changes while Marvelle Harris also made a timely return to form with 13 points all in the first half to keep the Hawks in the contest.

AJ Ogilvy provided a double with 10 points and 10 boards and had four blocks including a game sealing rejection of Jerome Randle with the game on the line. Rhys Martin also had 12 and Oscar Forman played a cool veteran’s hand, coming up big with seven points in the final term.

It didn’t come without some nervous moments with the Adelaide pegging back a 10-point lead to get within a single shot with 12 seconds to play.

Daniel Johnson led the visitors with 22 points and five rebounds while Eric Jacobsen (16), Nathan Sobey (16 and seven assists) and Randle (15 points five assists) also turned in solid performances.

The win gives the Hawks a valuable cushion in second spot with just three games to play this season, two of them to come on their home floor.

Kay had four points on a 6-0 run to start the game for the hosts but Sobey had seven, including a deep triple, while Johns also hot from long-range in an 11-0 run that put the Sixers back in front by the four minute mark.

Both sides got a life from the bench with Coenraad contributing six points but it was Adelaide big-man Jacobsen had the biggest impact eight points including two and-ones as the lead swelled out to seven late in the term.

Clarke and Drmic traded threes before a Coenraad put-back on the bell cut the margin to four at the first change.

Ogilvy got the margin back to two straight after the resumption before Adelaide coach Joey Wright earned a technical, though Clarke couldn’t make him pay from the line.

Randle had four points after a slow start to the quarter and the visitors were back in command on the back of eight points from Johnson.

Just as their grip on the clash appeared to be slipping, Harris sprung to life with 10 points for the term that ended on a triple from Clarke to cut the margin back to five at 49-45 at the main interval.

The game went up several notches in the third term that saw seven lead changes, starting with a three from Sobey to give his side and eight-point cushion.

The Hawks made quick work of the deficit with Cody Ellis and Clarke both knocking down threes on a 10-0 run that re-took the lad and forced Wright into a timeout. 

Jacobsen added four more but another three and a deft finish at the rim from Clarke saw the Hawks re-take the lad for the first time since the opening minutes.

Mitch Creek and Sobey kept their side in it from the line before a lay-up from Clarke and a steal from Martin on the next play gave the hosts a one-point lead at the final change.

Ogilvy had four points early before Forman, scoreless to that point in his 200^th game, drained his first three and produced a put-back and and and-one as the lead swelled to 10.

Clarke kept the margin in double digits with a monster three to keep the lead in double digits with four minutes to play.  Creek and Randle added four each in a last-ditch attempt at the victory before Nick Kay and Martin iced the game from the line.