Hawks beat Bullets as Olbrich, Baynes shine

They might be at opposite ends of their careers, but Lachlan Olbrich and Aron Baynes combined for 40 points and 22 rebounds as Olbrich’s Illawarra Hawks beat Baynes’ Brisbane Bullets 95-88 at the NBL Blitz.

Both teams started their NBL Blitz campaigns on the Gold Coast with losses to Melbourne United so were looking to open their accounts, and it turned out a fascinating contest with plenty for both outfits to take out of it.

The great fascination was the battle of the big men with Baynes showing he’s ready to fire in NBL24 in a second season at the Bullets on the back of a career that’s already seen him go to three Olympic Games for the Australian Boomers and win an NBA championship in his 576 games.

Olbrich is at the start of his professional career after a college season at UC Riverside and coming off an NBL1 Central championship at the West Adelaide Bearcats. What the result was on Wednesday was a tremendous battle between both men who were hugely influential for their teams.

What Baynes produced for Brisbane suggests he has the potential still to be a dominant force this NBL season. He ended up with 20 points, 20 rebounds, two assists and two blocks on 7/12 shooting in 24 minutes.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Lachie Olbrich takeover alert ?<br><br>The <a href="https://twitter.com/illawarrahawks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@illawarrahawks</a> forward is up to 20 points at the end of the third quarter ?<br><br>Watch every game live &amp; free via Kayo Freebies ?<br><br>Outside Australia? Watch via ?? <a href="https://t.co/8LoWsbR7E4">https://t.co/8LoWsbR7E4</a> <a href="https://t.co/NXNdTo08iK">pic.twitter.com/NXNdTo08iK</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1704391403504046416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 20, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

It was Olbrich and his Hawks who got the victory, though, with the 19-year-old ending up with 20 points, three assists, two rebounds and a steal while hitting 8/10 from the floor and 3/5 at the free-throw line while knocking down his lone three-point attempt.

There was plenty more for Illawarra to like out of the game as well including what import guard Justin Robinson offered in the first half to put up 12 points, three assists and two steals.

Sam Froling also did most of his work in the opening half with 12 points, six rebounds and three assists while Tyler Harvey put up 16 points with Gary Clark contributing nine points, four boards, three assists and two steals, and Hyunjung Lee eight points, five rebounds and two steals.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Baynes from deep ?<br><br>The <a href="https://twitter.com/BrisbaneBullets?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Brisbanebullets</a>&#39; big man is firing on all cylinders with 17 points halfway through the third ?<br><br>Watch every game live &amp; free via Kayo Freebies ?<br><br>Outside Australia? Watch via ?? <a href="https://t.co/8LoWsbR7E4">https://t.co/8LoWsbR7E4</a> <a href="https://t.co/V4atgBIJdg">pic.twitter.com/V4atgBIJdg</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1704388687910318553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 20, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Of concern for the Bullets will be the 26 turnovers including a string of offensive foul calls including one on a late possession with just a three-point deficit, but there was plenty for rookie coach Justin Schueller to like.

On top of what Baynes did, Nathan Sobey had 17 points and six assists coming off leading the Ipswich Force to a first ever championship in the NBL1 North in spectacular fashion this off-season.

DJ Mitchell put up 16 points, six rebounds and three assists, new import Chris Smith 12 points, two assists and two steals, and Shannon Scott nine points and three assists.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Justin Robinson is BACK ??<br><br>Watch every game live &amp; free via Kayo Freebies ?<br><br>Outside Australia? Watch via ?? <a href="https://t.co/8LoWsbR7E4">https://t.co/8LoWsbR7E4</a> <a href="https://t.co/q8jGwET04W">pic.twitter.com/q8jGwET04W</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1704382052454346872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 20, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Both teams play again on Friday to close the NBL Blitz on the Gold Coast with the Hawks first up against the Cairns Taipans. The Bullets then close the week’s action against the defending champion Sydney Kings.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL BLITZ

ILLAWARRA HAWKS 95 (Olbrich 20, Harvey 16, Froling 12, Robinson 12)

BRISBANE BULLETS 88 (Baynes 20, Sobey 17, Mitchell 16) 

BOX SCORE