UPDATE: The Illawarra Hawks faced a crushing defeat on October 21, 2023, as they were blown out 116-76 by the South East Melbourne Phoenix at John Cain Arena. This staggering loss marks the Hawks’ fourth defeat in five games, dropping their record to a disappointing 1-4.
In a night to forget for the Hawks, poor ball handling proved catastrophic. Illawarra committed a staggering 25 turnovers, allowing the Phoenix to capitalize and run away with the game. The Phoenix outscored the Hawks 36-17 in a disastrous second quarter, leading to a commanding 66-40 halftime advantage.
Angus Glover was the standout star for the Phoenix, showcasing his skills with an impressive performance. He lit up the court, hitting seven of eight three-pointers and finishing the first half with 23 points. Glover ultimately recorded a career-high 26 points in the game. His remarkable shooting helped the Phoenix extend their lead and maintain control throughout.
Nathan Sobey, playing his 301st NBL game, added 21 points, five rebounds, and three assists for the Phoenix. Meanwhile, under-pressure import Hunter Maldonado had his best outing yet, contributing 13 points and nine assists.
The Hawks struggled significantly, particularly in the first half, where they turned over the ball 14 times. Despite a promising start with a brief three-point lead, Illawarra was quickly overwhelmed as the Phoenix surged ahead. By halftime, the situation was dire, and the Hawks faced a daunting uphill battle.
“We need to address our ball-handling issues if we want to turn this season around,” said Hawks head coach Justin Tatum in a post-game statement.
JaVale McGee was one of the few bright spots for the Hawks, finishing with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and five blocks before fouling out with 8:29 left in the game. His dynamic play included several highlight-reel dunks, but it wasn’t enough to lift his team out of the slump.
In a surprising move, 17-year-old Jackson Ball made his NBL debut, scoring two points and showing promise for the future. The Hawks will need to regroup quickly as they look to fix their issues ahead of their next match.
As the Hawks continue to struggle, all eyes will be on their upcoming games to see if they can turn their fortunes around. With a growing urgency for improvement, fans are left wondering what changes will be made to avoid further humiliation on the court.
The Phoenix capitalized on their home-court advantage and will look to build on this momentum in their next outing. Meanwhile, the Hawks must confront their challenges head-on if they hope to salvage their season.
