Illawarra Hawks' Playoff Hopes Dim After Disappointing Home Loss to Perth
The Illawarra Hawks faced a critical test in front of their home crowd on Saturday night, needing a victory to keep their NBL26 postseason dreams alive. However, their efforts fell short as they succumbed to the Perth Wildcats with a final score of 99-106. This defeat casts further doubt on the team's ability to secure a top-six finish in the competition.
Coach Tatum's Post-Game Reflections
Following the match, Hawks coach Justin Tatum did not mince words about his team's performance. "I'm a little disappointed," Tatum admitted. "I felt like we should have given Perth four quarters worth of effort instead of just two." He acknowledged the Wildcats' strength, stating, "But I just take my hat off to Perth." Tatum pinpointed complacency as a key issue, particularly after halftime. "We did not come out with a sense of urgency like we have most third quarters this year, unfortunately," he explained.
The Hawks had controlled the game for over 25 minutes and even held a 13-point advantage at one stage. However, they allowed this lead to slip away in the second half. This marked the fifth occasion this season that Perth has rallied from a double-digit deficit to defeat an opponent. "Our guys just went away from what we talked about in the locker room," Tatum lamented. "We gotta stick with what's working for us."
Statistical Breakdown and Game Flow
The match began with an explosive first five minutes, featuring a total of 29 points on combined 52 percent field goal shooting. Only one three-pointer was made during this period. Wani Swaka Lo Buluk contributed five points for the Hawks, matching Ben Henshall's output for Perth. By the end of the first quarter, eight different Hawks players had scored, helping the team to a 30-25 lead with just one turnover. In contrast, none of the Wildcats' points came from their bench players.
This early lead was significant because, in the last 15 games where Illawarra trailed at the first break, they had lost 14. Meanwhile, Perth had won the first quarter in 10 of their previous 11 matches, securing victory in eight of those contests. Breaking this pattern initially seemed promising for the Hawks, especially considering they had not defeated Perth at home since round 13 of NBL25, a span of 405 days.
Second Half Collapse and Key Performances
The second half proved decisive for Illawarra's season prospects. After trailing 56-48, the Wildcats mounted an 8-0 run to level the scores before taking the lead with 6:41 remaining in the third quarter. This was the first time Perth had led since the opening three minutes of the game. Although the contest remained tight, a late surge by the Wildcats, scoring 16 points in five minutes, gave them a 74-80 advantage heading into the final period.
Another trend emerged: in their last three meetings, Perth had won the third quarter by 10 or more points twice. Conversely, Illawarra had won eight of their previous nine fourth quarters. The Hawks managed to cut the lead to two points and even tied the game at one point, while Perth went scoreless for over three minutes. However, back-to-back turnovers by the Hawks allowed the Wildcats to capitalize and rebuild a seven-point lead. Perth's points from turnovers totaled 11, compared to Illawarra's four.
Attempting a comeback from six points down with less than two minutes left proved too daunting. QJ Peterson led the Hawks with 22 points, five rebounds, and six assists, while JaVale McGee added 18 points and 11 rebounds. For Perth, Kristian Doolittle top-scored with 26 points, and Dylan Windler contributed 22 points without a turnover in over 31 minutes of play.
Looking Ahead for the Hawks
Despite the setback, Coach Tatum remains cautiously optimistic about the team's playoff chances. "We have a chance," he asserted. "But we don't have anything if we don't do what it takes to win, if we don't do our part." He emphasized the importance of performance, stating, "It could be statistically, mathematically, hopefully ... whatever it is, if you don't come out here and perform and win games ... it doesn't make sense." The Hawks must now regroup and focus on executing their game plan consistently to keep their postseason aspirations alive.
