DP Travers leads Wildcats over Hawks to force Game 3

The Illawarra Hawks learned a lesson they already know well about how hard it is to knock the Perth Wildcats out of the NBL Finals with the 'Cats dominating the second half at WIN Entertainment Centre on Saturday to win Game 2 of the semi-final series 79-71.

The Hawks defied history in stunning fashion on Thursday to score their second ever win at RAC Arena inspired by Justin Simon and Justinian Jessup down the stretch to come back to 5217 of their own fans in the 'Gong willing them onto a Grand Final spot.

However, the Wildcats have won two Grand Final series and three semi-final battles with the Hawks over the past 11 years, and Illawarra again learned just how hard it is to overcome Perth even if without their superstar MVP Bryce Cotton.

It was yet another defensive grind in the first half with the two teams struggling to combine for 59 points, but the Wildcats got rolling in the third quarter and that lift started with development player Luke Travers.

He was everywhere dominating the offensive glass, knocking down shots and also locking in defensively on Tyler Harvey with Mitch Norton sitting most of the second half for Perth with a hip injury.

Clint Steindl then got rolling with all 12 of his points in the third quarter too as Perth put up 32 points and that is where they set u their eventual eight-point win to level the series with Game 3 now back at RAC Arena on Mondy night.

John Mooney delivered 18 points and eight rebounds for Perth but this game would be remembered for the impact Travers had. He finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds and three assists but his impact came in more than just his numbers.

Wildcats coach Trevor Gleeson is a five-time championship winning coach, but he puts this win right up there among the best he's seen.

"I'm just so proud. I'm not sure how many games I've coached at the Wildcats, but that's got to be the gutsiest win that I've seen a team play," Gleeson said.

"When Mitch went down I think we were five down and we could have been a house of cards, but we showed toughness, we showed heart, we showed passion and everything that just makes you proud to be the coach. 

"We played with team work, had each other's back, found away to get things done and that's what you need in playoff time. It was just all about guts and determination, it was brilliant."

Steindl had those 12 third quarter points to go with three assists with Todd Blanchfield adding 11 points, five rebounds and five assists, Jesse Wagstaff seven points, Will Magnay seven points and six rebounds, and Kevin White six points, six assists and five rebounds.

Tyler Harvey put up 24 points and four steals for the Hawks including hitting 6/11 from downtown while Justinian Jessup scored 11 points, Deng Deng nine, Isaac White eight and Justin Simon eight to go with five assists.

Illawarra coach Brian Goorjian simply felt that the Hawks were beaten in all the areas that matter in the end in finals basketball.

"Well I thought that over the course of time they just wore us down and all game long we struggled to score offensively. Even when we were ahead at half-time, the scoring was a struggle and we did a great job of holding them down," Goorjian said. 

"But being able to do that for 40 minutes was just too much. In the first game we got some easy baskets and we won the rebounding count, but tonight I've got some work to do on the team after that on the offensive end. 

"But in playoff basketball, the game is about easy baskets and those are ones you get in transition or putbacks from offensive rebounds. They killed us there and then the third one, and a very important one, is the foul line and I thought they were very physical and tough. 

"I've been coaching for close to 30 years and we didn’t go to the foul line or shoot a free-throw until four minutes left in the game on our home court. I've never seen or been a part of anything like that."

Neither team could get too much going in the opening quarter offensively with Perth up 16-13 by quarter-time and it was a similar defensive grind in the second term.

The Hawks did threaten to run away a little when Tim Coenraad knocked down a three-pointer and then they went on a 6-0 run, but their lead was just three at the half, 31-28, thanks to a score to Deng Deng on the buzzer.

The combined 59 points in the first half was the lowest in the #NBL21 season but the Hawks looked to put the game away to start the second half racing to a seven-point with a three to Justinian Jessup, and baskets to Justin Simon and Tyler Harvey.

The Wildcats could sense the time was now to make their move and it was development player Luke Travers who provided the inspiration. He hit a three but it was his energy on the offensive boards and to defend Harvey that was making the big difference.

Will Magnay and Clint Steindl hit three-pointers as part of an 8-0 that saw Perth take the lead, and Steindl hit nine more points in the final minutes of the quarter, and yet another offensive rebound and putback from Travers gave the 'Cats a 10-0 run.

A three from Harvey on three quarter-time kept the Hawks within seven but Perth captain Jesse Wagstaff stretched their lead back to 10 to start the fourth term with an and-one play.

Harvey and Jessup hit threes for Illawarra to threaten a comeback, but Kevin White hit a big triple of his own against the club he was formerly captain of. 

Blanchfield then hit six quick points and Mooney's triple with three minutes remaining was the final dagger and Perth went on to win by eight to force Game 3 back at RAC Arena on Monday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL FINALS 2021
SEMI FINALS GAME 2

ILLAWARRA HAWKS 71 (Harvey 24, Jessup 11, Deng 9)

PERTH WILDCATS 79 (Mooney 18, Travers 13, Steindl 12) 

BOX SCORE