Bullets keep fighting against deep Hawks roster

The Brisbane Bullets found the going tough against the Illawarra Hawks but didn't stop competing and ended up winning the final quarter.

The Brisbane Bullets were back home for the first time in more than three weeks and while the final scoreline might not suggest it with a 113-75 win for the Illawarra Hawks, the home team did fight it out right to the end.

The Bullets were back at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre for the first time since January 4 for the Australia Day match up with the defending champion Hawks.

It was always going to be a challenge with Illawarra at full strength and still fighting for sixth position, and with the Bullets without Alex Ducas, Tyrell Harrison, Sam McDaniel and Javon Freeman-Liberty, and the long-term injuries to Casey Prather, Dakota Mathias and Lamar Patterson.

It did end up being a tough evening for the Bullets but they fought the game out and ended up winning the fourth quarter 23 points to 17 so can take heart from continuing to compete to the end.

The possession game again hurt the Bullets as they ended up taking six fewer field goals and 11 less free throws on top of shooting just 42 per cent from the field and 8/32 from downtown opposed to the 56 per cent from the Hawks who did only manage 8/24 from three.

Hunter Maldonado once again top scored for the Bullets with 20 points and four assists while Taine Murray continues to impress as a rookie by playing 33:29 and producing 14 points, six rebounds and five assists.

Captain Mitch Norton played another 28 minutes for 12 points, three assists and two steals with Terry Taylor contributing 10 points and six rebounds, and Jacob Holt seven points, three boards and three assists.

Tohi Smith-Milner also had three points and three assists, Jack Purchase three points and two rebounds, Tristan Devers two points and a steal, Cal Dalton two points, a rebound and an assist, and Jensen Bradtke two points.

The Hawks finished up getting 78 points from their bench led by 22 points, six rebounds and five assists from Tyler Harvey with Davo Hickey adding 17 points and seven assists, Sam Froling 14 points, five rebounds and five assists, and Daniel Grida 13 points.

From their starting group, JaVale McGee had 18 points and 10 rebounds with QJ Peterson landing 3/4 from downtown for 15 points and four assists.

Terry Taylor opened the scoring for the game and Taine Murray hit a three-pointer soon after, and then Mitch Norton also scored with the Bullets leading 7-6 in what had been an encouraging start.

The Hawks called a timeout and coach Justin Tatum changed out all five of his players with it paying immediate dividends as they came out and scored the next 10 points.

Illawarra were then leading 22-11 on the back of shooting 47 per cent from the field to just 22 from the Bullets who also went 1/11 from three-point territory.

Illawarra then scored the first seven points of the second quarter before a steadying three-pointer from Bullets captain Norton.

Jacob Holt hit a triple as well soon after and the Bullets did manage a 7-2 run, but the Hawks were still managing to score at will and they put up 33 points in the second quarter on the way to the 55-31 half-time advantage.

The Hawks again started hot in the second half beginning with a pair of triples from QJ Peterson and it was a 14-4 start with the lead for the visitors getting out to 34 points.

On the back of 41 points in the quarter, Illawarra were on top by 44 at three quarter-time but Brisbane showed some good spirit in the final stanza beginning by hitting the first eight points including three balls to Murray and Maldonado.

The Bullets did end up outscoring the Hawks with 23 points to 17 in that last quarter to cut the final deficit to 38.

The Bullets now are back in action in less than 48 hours when they return to the Gold Coast Sport and Leisure Centre for an Ignite Cup contest with the top-of-the-table Adelaide 36ers on Wednesday night.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26

BRISBANE BULLETS 75 (Maldonado 20, Murray 14, Norton 12)

ILLAWARRA HAWKS 113 (Harvey 22, McGee 18, Hickey 17)

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