The previous home game, against the Paul Henare-coached Sharks, was perfect but captain Paora Winitana and his men simply wanted to tick another box in the hunt for a second Bartercard National Basketball League (NBL) crown.
The first quarter was a comfortable 28-19 to the hosts.
At halftime, Baldwin went to the locker room with his troops 52-37 ahead.
It was a game in which the score didn't matter.
It seemed a winning 100-plus total had more traction for the paying ticket holders.
The Nuggets, all eight of them, had a bench look about them.
Player/coach Mark Dickel and Brendon Polyblank had assumed the mantle of mentors.
Otago US import Brandon Bowdry was kick-starting his right knee in the third quarter after copping some attention from Winitana.
With two minutes left in the game, referee Gavin Zimmerman asked the pair to wind their necks in as they traded verbal volleys.
The final quarter was reduced to the battle of benches, evident in Otago winning it 30-21, and any prospect of free pizzas was getting cold by the second.
"I know, I know. We heard of it [pizzas]. We knew it and tried to get 100 [points] for our supporters so we apologise for that," a laughing Winitana said after signing autographs for a legion of fans.
"But hey, we'll make it up for them in the weekend," the swingman said, thanking the PG Arena faithful and saluting them as the best in the country.
"We know there's a bigger picture next weekend but this is part of the process and one of the goals we had set at the beginning of the season."
The unbeaten home record, Winitana said, reflected a sense of pride and something the Hawks would treasure.
"I told them not to enjoy it too much because we have bigger things to come."
He said Bay-born Henare and the Sharks would be tough.
"One of the toughest guys to step on the soil in this country is Paul Henare. He loves the game and he's a student of it."
Winitana said they respected the ex-Tall Black and title-winning Breakers captain but that deference extended to the Hawks coach as well.
"We've got someone at the head of this ship as well by the name of Tab Baldwin.
"No one covers attention to detail better than him."
The Hawks have faith in him and if they stick to his plan in Wellington there's no doubt they'll return with the NBL crown.
Bowdry got a game-high 23 points and 11 rebounds but the Hawks' scorers sum up their season.
Six players got into double figures for the hosts.
Johnson got 19 points, Winitana added 17 while Scott claimed a double-double with 13 points and 15 rebounds. Bench shooting guard Alexander scored 13pts but point guard Kenny claimed a double-double 11 points and a dozen assists.
A sombre Dickel and his troops disappeared into the changing rooms soon after the final whistle.
