The Illawarra Hawks have threatened a changing of the guard by handing NBL champions the Tasmania JackJumpers the biggest loss in club history: a 109-76 mauling in Wollongong.
The JackJumpers were already in the midst of a lukewarm start to their championship defence but will be left to do some serious soul-searching after finding themselves out-enthused on both ends of the floor on Saturday.
Six Hawks reached double-digits for scoring -- big man Sam Froling leading the way with 21 points -- as Illawarra punished the JackJumpers for their slow start.
Tasmania have lost four of their five first quarters this season, the past three by a combined total of 82-47, and never recovered after falling victim to the same habit again on Saturday.
The Hawks went into quarter-time up 32-17 and maintained a double-digit lead for the remainder of the game.
Hyunjung Lee hit a three-pointer in the dying seconds to stretch the margin to 33 points and eclipse a 32-point loss to New Zealand in October 2022 as the biggest of the JackJumpers' four NBL seasons.
The Hawks, meanwhile, are 4-1 to begin Justin Tatum's first full season as coach and have underlined their status as championship heavyweights.
Hawks defensive guru Wani Swaka Lo Buluk (eight points, three rebounds) neutralised Tasmania's attacking weapon Milton Doyle, who managed two points from one-of-five shooting in the first three quarters.
Doyle turned the ball over a staggering seven times, with the JackJumpers giving the rock up on 18 occasions in total.
Pocket-rocket guard Jordon Crawford (19 points) was the only consistent attacking threat for the visitors as Froling had the better of his match-up with star Jackies big man Will Magnay (11 points, four rebounds).
Hawks guard Tyler Harvey (19 points, five assists) made four from eight attempts at three and helped set the tone early with his trademark shooting from deep.
Harvey landed a bunny on a fast break to give the Hawks what was then a game-high 20-point lead and force a JackJumpers timeout midway through the second quarter.
Illawarra's high-energy approach to the game suited second-unit Hawks Will Hickey (15 points, eight rebounds) and Dan Grida (two offensive rebounds).
Journeyman guard Hickey pulled down seven offensive boards, almost as many as the entire JackJumpers team (10).
Grida epitomised the Hawks' effort-first approach to the contest when he went head-first over an advertising banner attempting to keep the ball in play on the attack in the first quarter.
He needed a bandage on his knee after the collision, but later returned to the contest.