Hawks demolish Bullets to open account

Tyler Harvey top-scored and had a career-high in assists to emphatically lead the Illawarra Hawks to their first win in NBL26 as defending champions with a 116-89 home demolition of the Brisbane Bullets.

The opening six minutes of Saturday's clash were a bloodbath as the Hawks produced a devastating 25-3 run from the tip-off to set up a match-winning lead.

Illawarra entered the match with a 0-3 record and having just been smashed 117-88 by fellow strugglers the New Zealand Breakers.

Adding to the early-season turmoil, Illawarra parted ways with import guard Jaquori McLaughlin in the lead-up to the match.

But the Hawks looked every bit of a championship-winning team against Brisbane, with superstar guard Harvey leading the way with 22 points to go with a career-high 10 assists plus five steals.

The Hawks blew out of the blocks to be leading 22-2 in the first quarter and then were up by 21 at half-time on the back of shooting 70 per cent from the field.

Having struggled in their opening three games offensively, it was a breakout performance from the defending champions on their home floor as they cruised to the eventual 27-point victory.

Three-time NBA champion JaVale McGee had another 13 points and 12 rebounds for Illawarra with Wani Swaka Lo Buluk (12 points), Mason Peatling (13 points) and Todd Blanchfield (13 points) also producing strong displays in a formidable team performance.

It was a tough night for Brisbane who had lost three of their first four games coming into the game but only by a combined 10 points.

The Bullets had also parted ways with import forward Javon Freeman-Liberty during the week and were still missing leaders Mitch Norton and Sam McDaniel, and had no answers for the Hawks.

Casey Prather scored 28 points, nine rebounds and three assists for Brisbane with Lamar Patterson adding 17 points, five boards and five assists, and Jaylen Adams 13 points and four assists.

Brisbane shot just 3/22 from three-point territory while Illawarra nailed 11/25 from long range, while also dominating the rebound battle 38-28.

The Bullets hit just one of their first 10 field-goal attempts as the Hawks went on a devastating scoring spree to open up a 22-point lead after six minutes.

Seven points to Prather at least allowed Brisbane to claw the scoreline back to 34-18 by quarter-time.

Bullets centre Tyrell Harrison picked up his third foul just 90 seconds into the second term.

Prather drained 10 points in the second quarter, but the Hawks' even spread of contributors meant the home side went to half-time boasting a dominant 68-47 lead.

It marked the highest first-half score of the season to date, with Harvey (11 points), McGee (11) and Blanchfield (10) all hitting double figures.

Daniel Grida was able to return to the court in the second half to give the Hawks further pep, and the 18-point margin at three quarter-time become 25 points early in the last after Illawarra hit three big triples.

The Hawks are back on the road next Saturday night away to the South East Melbourne Phoenix while the Bullets remain away to take on the Perth Wildcats on Wednesday as part of the Ignite Cup.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26

ILLAWARRA HAWKS 116 (Harvey 22, McGee 13, Peatling 13, Blanchfield 13)

BRISBANE BULLETS 89 (Prather 28, Patterson 17, Adams 13)

BOX SCORE