Harvey's Hawks lash lifeless Bullets to stay alive

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Illawarra Hawks sharpshooter Tyler Harvey believes his team is finding their groove at the right time after edging closer to the coveted sixth position on the ladder following a 38-point drubbing of the Brisbane Bullets at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

In their second win on the trot, the Hawks looked unstoppable against the injury-riddled and hapless Bullets, with seven players scoring in double figures - led by Harvey who had more than 20 points for the first time since Round 10.

"I think we all did well as a team, we all deserve player of the game today, we're trying to play consistently for 40 minutes, put a full game together and I think tonight was our closest step to doing that," Harvey said in the post-game interview.

"I think it's fun, when the ball's moving, everybody's a threat on offence, it's fun and it helps your defence as well, so I think if we can carry that on the rest of the year we give ourselves a good chance."

The Hawks travel to Sydney to take on the red-hot Kings on Thursday at Qudos Bank Arena and Harvey said they were excited to meet the league's in form team.

"I think our energy and just sharing the ball and playing Hawks basketball for 40 minutes (needs to carry over). We know it's going to be a tough one in Sydney but we'll be up for the challenge," he said.

Meanwhile, Brisbane recorded its ninth loss by 25 or more points this season with NBL commentator Damon Lowery saying interim coach Darryl McDonald is not to blame.

"No one can coach this team... the coach of the year this season couldn't win with this team," he said on the broadcast.

Match Recap

Illawarra Hawks 113 defeated Brisbane Bullets 75 in a commanding 38-point win at Brisbane Entertainment Centre, led by Tyler Harvey’s stellar 22-point performance. The Hawks strengthen their NBL standing with this dominant result.

Key Details

• Result: Illawarra Hawks 113 def. Brisbane Bullets 75
• When: 26th of January 2026
• Where: Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane
• Attendance: 4,075
• Standings: NBL Standings

By the Numbers

• Tyler Harvey (Illawarra Hawks) starred with 22 points, six rebounds, five assists, and two steals in just under twenty-five minutes.
• Hunter Maldonado (Brisbane Bullets) led his side with 20 points, two rebounds, four assists, and two steals in just under thirty-one minutes.

What Happened

Illawarra Hawks seized control from the opening tip, outscoring the Bullets twenty-two to eleven in the first quarter behind suffocating defence and efficient shooting. The Hawks’ offence ignited in the second term, pouring in thirty-three points to Brisbane’s twenty, with JaVale McGee and Harvey leading the charge. By half-time, the margin had ballooned to twenty-four points, and Illawarra never looked back.

The third quarter saw the Hawks at their most explosive, racking up forty-one points—an offensive clinic that left the Bullets scrambling. William Hickey’s playmaking and Harvey’s ability from outside the arc fuelled a devastating 11-0 run midway through the period, pushing the lead to an insurmountable forty-eight points. Brisbane’s only answer came in brief spurts, but they struggled to control the ball, finishing with fourteen turnovers.

Key moments included Harvey’s deep triple with 5:10 left in the second quarter, extending Illawarra’s lead to twenty. In the third, Daniel Grida capped a fastbreak with a slam dunk at 3:45, energising the Hawks’ bench and crowd. On the defensive end, Sam Froling swatted a driving layup with 6:30 in the fourth, denying any hope of a Bullets rally.

Harvey was outstanding, shooting 7-from-10 from the field and a perfect 6-from-6 at the charity stripe, while JaVale McGee dominated in the paint with an efficient eighteen points and ten boards in under eighteen minutes. Hickey’s all-round effort—seventeen points, seven assists, three rebounds—provided a masterful spark off the bench. Illawarra’s balanced attack saw six players reach double digits, epitomising a full team effort.

The Hawks’ offensive efficiency was superb: they shot just over fifty-five percent from the field (39-from-70) and a perfect 27-from-27 at the foul line. Their defence was equally impressive, cleaning the glass with forty-two rebounds to Brisbane’s twenty-five and limiting the Bullets to just over forty-two percent shooting. Brisbane’s offence was lacklustre, particularly from deep, connecting on only eight-of-thirty-two from outside the arc. The Bullets struggled to generate consistent offence, with only Maldonado and Taine Murray (fourteen points, five assists) producing notable contributions.

This result propels Illawarra further up the NBL ladder, pushing them closer to sixth position with Tasmania and New Zealand both struggling. Meanwhile, Brisbane are left searching for answers after a dismal showing at home.