How to watch & talking points: Illawarra v Perth

30 Jan 2026

illawarra hawks

perth wildcats

A desperate Illawarra Hawks host a reenergised Perth Wildcats in a pivotal Saturday night fixture.

Illawarra Hawks (8th) v Perth Wildcats (5th)
Saturday, January 31, 8pm AEDT
WIN Entertainment Centre

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Talking points

Cats on the prowl
The Perth Wildcats are starting to string together some good basketball and the fact they managed to hang on to get a clutch win over the Phoenix should only give them more confidence.

It was Dylan Windler who stepped up with a big double-double, as the star wing just continues to unassumingly deliver for his team. Ben Henshall and Elijah Pepper are currently filling the vacant point guard role and it's been a positive step for everyone over the past few weeks.

Does this team now have what it takes to make a run at it on current form?

Running out of time
The Hawks need to keep winning if they are any hope of making it into the top six and a disappointing loss in Sydney has further hurt their chances.

While the Kings are arguably the hottest team around, Justin Tatum's men were forever chasing against them and struggled to make an impact late.

Now their attention turns to the Wildcats who also have more to prove to the competition.

What they're saying

Hawks coach Justin Tatum on his side continuing to push for a spot in the post-season:
"That's what I told to the guys in the locker room ... we don't need to put our head down.

"We still have opportunities, so we've gotta keep building off how we've finished off the last game and get ready for Perth.

"This league is not easy, but I have enough talent in that locker room to push into the top six and make a healthy run."

Wildcats coach John Rillie on his team's resiliency:
“I like to see how we respond. What I am confident in is this group is a together group.

“People can write, insinuate and react when some competitors show their feelings about a game. But when we get back practicing behind closed doors, this group has character. We’ve shown that throughout the season.

“The season has its undulations where it tests you. We’ve been tested many times. Everyone wants to tell me we have lost four one-point games at home. Well how to we respond? How do we come back the next time?

“We haven’t played with luck. It is hard to be a champion but these tests will give us an opportunity to participate post-season and see what happens.”