Justin Tatum: '40 minutes of defense and effort'

• Seven Hawks score in double figures as team balance shines.
• Justin Tatum praises 40 minutes of effort and defensive energy.
• NBL1 West star Johnny “Sparky” Narkle makes debut with steal and banked three.

Defending champions Illawarra Hawks are "on the board" with an emphatic 27-point win against the Brisbane Bullets at WIN Entertainment Centre in Round 4 of NBL26.

Illawarra Hawks (1-3) dominated (1-4) Brisbane Bullets 116-89 as Tyler Harvey's delivered a rock-solid 22 points and 10 assists.

"It means we’re on the board, like everybody else, with a win in the column," Tatum said.

"So that’s all that means — that we actually feel that we completed and put a whole game together, effort in and effort in.

"And, you know what we talked about early in the shoot-around — that I’m only worried about 40 minutes of defense and effort, and multiple efforts out there on the defensive end.

"We’ll figure out how to win if we do that.

"So it was mainly just guys — I didn’t see the effort on the defensive end in New Zealand, and the guys did it 10 times better today."

Seven Hawks scored in double figures Harvey (22), JaVale McGee (13), Mason Peatling (13), Todd Blanchfield (13), Biwali Bayles (12), Wani Swaka Lo Buluk (12) and Jonah Bolden (11). It was almost eight with comeback star Harry Froling finishing with nine.

"Yeah — almost eight. I’m mad at Harry — no, but no, that’s Hawks basketball," Tatum quipped.

"That was kind of us last year, right? Consistently, in 29 games we got multiple contributions out of a lot of guys — five-plus men.

"And so, with the crowd behind us today uplifting us, giving us that encouragement, and just the guys understanding that we want to come out and play like our pants was on fire or something — with our back against the wall — and we just want to play well in front of those fans."

Tatum was also full of praise for 2025 NBL1 West star Johnny Narkle, who made his NBL debut.

"Yes — Sparky Narkle," Tatum added.

"He did his thing today. You know, he’s a quiet one, but I’m glad he was out there to get some exposure.

"He’s a champion in the NBL1, so he understands how to compete and play. And I’m glad he got a chance to get out there and, you know, get a steal and a bank three."

Key Details

• Result: Illawarra Hawks 116 def. Brisbane Bullets 89
• When: 11th October 2025
• Where: WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Tyler Harvey (Illawarra Hawks) starred with 22 points, seven rebounds, 10 assists, and four steals in 31 minutes.
• Casey Prather (Brisbane Bullets) scored 28 points, had nine rebounds, three assists, and three steals in 30 minutes.

What Happened

The Hawks established control immediately, racing to a commanding 34-18 first-quarter lead behind an efficient offensive attack. They maintained this momentum through the second period, matching their opening quarter output with another 34 points while the Bullets managed 29, giving Illawarra a 21-point halftime advantage at 68-47.

Brisbane showed signs of life in the third quarter, narrowly outscoring Illawarra 24-21, but the deficit remained substantial at 89-71 heading into the final period. Any hopes of a comeback were quickly extinguished as the Hawks closed out the contest with a dominant 27-18 fourth quarter for the convincing 27-point victory.

JaVale McGee provided a strong interior presence for the Hawks with 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Biwali Bayles contributed 12 points on an outstanding 6-from-8 shooting in just under 20 minutes off the bench. The Hawks' balanced attack saw six players score in double figures, highlighting their team-oriented approach.

The Hawks' superior shooting was the difference maker, connecting on an exceptional 60.5% from the field (43-from-71) compared to the Bullets' 43.5% (30-from-69). Illawarra also dominated from beyond the arc, hitting 11 three-pointers at a 44% clip while Brisbane struggled mightily at just 13.6% (3-from-22).

Illawarra's ball movement was exceptional throughout, recording 29 assists to Brisbane's 15, creating high-percentage scoring opportunities. The Hawks also controlled the glass with a 43-31 rebounding advantage, limiting the Bullets' second-chance opportunities and fueling their transition game. Despite committing 18 turnovers, Illawarra's defensive pressure forced 17 Brisbane miscues, effectively neutralising any potential advantage.