Triple Treat as Hawks Soar High on Road to Recovery
The Illawarra Hawks continued their resurgence in the NBL championship race, powered by a dominant trio that propelled them to a 107-90 road victory over the Cairns Taipans.
Key Performances
- Will "Davo" Hickey recorded the first triple-double of the season with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists at the Cairns Convention Centre.
- QJ Peterson delivered 22 points, hitting 4 of 6 from beyond the arc.
- JaVale McGee showcased his interior dominance with 28 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists, converting 12 of 13 field goals.
Coach’s Reflections
"Our performance was really strong, especially coming off Wednesday playing at a high level and we didn't want to drop that intensity," said Hawks coach Justin Tatum. "We understand that Cairns is short-manned, so our mentality was to keep coming and putting pressure on them, and I loved the effort the guys came out and played with."
Tatum added that the team found effective ways to dominate inside and control the momentum throughout the game.
Recent Form
McGee entered the match following a career-best performance of 37 points and 14 rebounds in Wednesday night’s home win for the reigning champions. Although the Taipans had broken their losing streak in Tasmania the previous weekend, they struggled to contain Illawarra’s relentless attack.
Author’s Summary
The Hawks’ balanced offense and relentless defense signal a team rediscovering its championship identity, powered by Hickey, Peterson, and McGee’s standout play.