Game Preview: Hawks vs 36ers | RD13 NBL26

The Illawarra Hawks are returning home to the WIN Entertainment Centre this Saturday, December 20, for a massive showdown against the top-of-the-table Adelaide 36ers. This isn't just any regular season game—it’s our final home appearance before Christmas, and we’re celebrating in style!

Show us your best Christmas dress-up to BE UPGRADED TO COURTSIDE SEATS! 🎄

Rock your festive fit at Saturdays game and help us bring the Christmas spirit to the arena. Whether it’s bold, bright or brilliantly silly.

The boys will be hitting the court in our special Christmas edition uniforms. We want to see the Sandpit filled with red, white, and green, so make sure to bring your festive spirit and help us send a message to the rest of the league before the holiday break

The Task at Hand: Toppling the Leaders

While Adelaide is setting the pace at the top of the ladder with a 14-4 record, they are coming off a grueling overtime loss to the Sydney Kings on Wednesday night. However, the scheduling presents a tough challenge for our boys; while the 36ers played nearby in Canberra and have had extra time to recover, the Hawks have to fly back from a sweltering Melbourne road trip and back up with one less day of rest. Justin Tatum’s men will need every bit of that home-court advantage to overcome the fatigue and topple the league leaders.

• The Lockdown: Wani Swaka Lo Buluk’s elite defense will be called upon in this prime-time matchup with Bryce Cotton. As the NBL's leading scorer (26.6 PPG) and assist man (7.7 APG), Cotton is the engine of the 36ers' offense, and Wani will be the primary man tasked with slowing him down.
• The Paint Battle: Superstar big man JaVale McGee leads the league in rebounds (10.6 RPG) and blocks (2.1 BPG). He faces a tough test against Isaac Humphries, who sits third in the league in blocks at 1.7 BPG.
• Captain’s Courage: After battling through a first-quarter injury scare in Melbourne to finish with 18 points, Tyler Harvey will be looking to light it up again from deep in front of the home crowd.
• The Facilitator: William "Davo" Hickey continues his incredible season, currently sitting second in the league for assists at 7.4 APG.

Why We Need You:

After a physical and frustrating road trip to Melbourne, the boys need the energy of the Wollongong faithful more than ever. Whether it’s Todd Blanchfield’s hustle, QJ Peterson’s scoring punch, or Mason Peatling’s grit inside, your support is the "sixth man" that helps turn the tide at the Sandpit.

Game Details:

• Opponent: Adelaide 36ers
• Date: Saturday, December 20, 5:30 pm

• Location: WIN Entertainment Centre (The Sandpit)

🎟️ Don’t miss our Christmas special – get your tickets now at Ticketmaster!

📸 Check our social media for a first look at our Christmas uniforms and more game highlights!