Hawks take charge late led by McGee

Not much separated two teams desperate for a win until the Illawarra Hawks closed the game with a 16-2 scoring run with JaVale McGee ultimately the difference as the defending champions beat the Brisbane Bullets 100-85.

Both teams came into the Thursday night match up on five wins and looking to stay in touch with the top six, and the Bullets put up 33 points in the first quarter and were 14 points up early in the second at WIN Entertainment Centre.

Things ended up close most of the rest of the way until the Hawks took charge late outscoring the Bullets 16 points to two to turn a one-point lead into the 15-point victory.

McGee was the major difference as the game wore on and the three-time NBA champion finished with 30 points, 10 rebounds, two steals and two blocks on 13/19 shooting from the field 4/4 at the stripe.

The Hawks made their first 19 free throws of the game too before a miss from Davo Hickey in the closing seconds.

The Bullets had mustered just 65 and 76 points in their last two games but had a season-high 33 at quarter-time.

Newly arrived import forward Terry Taylor showed up in his second game at the club and guard Javon Freeman-Liberty impressed in his return, having departed for the United States after playing the first two games of the season.

There will likely be more injury concern, though, with fellow import Dakota Mathias leaving the court with an apparent shoulder injury in the first half.

He had 11 points in 13 minutes and the Bullets missed the sharpshooter as McGee's presence in the paint slowly took its toll.

Tyrell Harrison worked hard around the rim for the Bullets but Hickey (18 points, eight assists), QJ Peterson (19 points, five rebounds, eight assists) and Tyler Harvey (17 points) stepped up to guide the defending champions home.

Taylor ended up top-scoring for the Bullets who have now lost five straight to be 5-12 on the season with 18 points and eight rebounds on 8/14 shooting.

Harrison added 13 points, seven rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks, Freeman-Liberty 13 points and two assists, Alex Ducas nine points, three rebounds and three assists, and captain Mitch Norton eight points, six boards and four assists.

The Hawks now don't play again until another Championship Series rematch against Melbourne United at John Cain Arena next Thursday while the Bullets return home to host the Perth Wildcats on Sunday afternoon.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26

ILLAWARRA HAWKS 100 (McGee 30, Peterson 19, Hickey 18)

BRISBANE BULLETS 85 (Taylor 18, Harrison 13, Freeman-Liberty 13)

BOX SCORE