Game Preview: Hawks vs Phoenix & Taipans | RD11 NBL26

The Illawarra Hawks are back at WIN Entertainment Centre for a massive two-game home stand,  first facing the South East Melbourne Phoenix on Thursday night, before hosting the Cairns Taipans on Saturday.

It’s a crucial stretch as the Hawks look to climb the ladder, and they return from the FIBA break with renewed belief and one Boomer who’s just delivered two of the biggest shots of his career.

THE CLUTCH BOOMER — DAVO HICKEY

Will “Davo” Hickey’s Australian Boomers series against NZ will be remembered for two cold-blooded moments:

Game 1 vs Tall Blacks (Tasmania)

Hickey buried a three with 34 seconds left, swinging the game Australia’s way in their 84-79 win.

Game 2 in New Zealand

With the Boomers trailing 76–77, Hickey drilled a buzzer-beating bank three to win it 79–77.

Davo had 12 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds in Game 1, and 12 points, 7 assists and 6 rebounds in Game 2.

He returns to Wollongong full of confidence and as one of the form guards in the league.

THURSDAY: Hawks vs South East Melbourne Phoenix  | Tip Off 7:30pm

The Phoenix Storyline — A Familiar Face Returns

Illawarra junior and former Hawk Angus Glover returns home for the first time this season.

He’s in career-best shooting form and was rewarded with Boomers selection alongside Hickey this past week.

Phoenix Team Leaders (NBL26)

• Nathan Sobey: 21.0 ppg
• Hunter Maldonado: 4.7 apg
• Jordan Hunter: 6.1 rpg

What Makes the Phoenix Dangerous

• Sobey is one of the league’s toughest shot-makers, able to carry an offense on his own
• Glover is a legitimate perimeter weapon and spacer.
• Maldonado gives them steady ball-handling and tempo control.
• Jordan Hunter, also coming off the Boomers series win anchors the interior and crashes the glass.
• They play fast, shoot confidently, and punish turnovers — an area the Hawks must tidy up.

Coach Tatum’s Focus Areas

In the lead-up to Thursday’s game, Coach Justin Tatum has been clear about what the Hawks must sharpen coming out of the break. He emphasised:

• Cutting down on turnovers.
• Being more efficient on the offensive end, valuing possessions and improving shot selection.
• Limiting SEM from the three-point line, especially Sobey, Glover and their shooters in transition.
• Matching the Phoenix’s intensity for 40 minutes.

The Phoenix punish mistakes, and Tatum wants the Hawks to control the tempo, take smart shots and lock in defensively around the arc.

The Hawks want to show who they are now — a far more connected, confident and complete unit than the team that took the floor in Melbourne against the Phoenix back in October.

SATURDAY: Hawks vs Cairns Taipans | Tip Off 8pm

This is the second meeting of the season after the Hawks’ impressive 107–90 win in Cairns in Round 8 — a night highlighted by:

• Davo Hickey’s triple-double (19–12–12)
• JaVale McGee’s 28 points on 12-of-13
• QJ Peterson’s 22-point breakout

Illawarra’s ball movement (26 assists) and team defence blew the game open — a performance the Hawks will look to replicate at home.

Taipans Team Leaders (NBL26)

• Jack McVeigh: 20.2 ppg
• Andrew Andrews: 6.5 apg
• Jack McVeigh: 6.8 rpg

What Makes the Taipans Dangerous

• Jack McVeigh, back the NBA and recovered from injury is leading the team in scoring and rebounds
• Andrew Andrews is one of the best P&R creators in the league
• Mojave King and Admiral Schofield give Cairns athletic scoring options on the wings
• Marcus Lee protects the rim and competes hard on the boards
• When they get rolling in transition, they can put up points in bunches

HAWKS INJURY UPDATE

• Jonah Bolden ruled out for the season (Achilles) during the FIBA break.
• Sam Froling is back in full training and pushing for a late-December return.

BACK-TO-BACK BLOCKBUSTERS AT THE SANDPIT

📅 Thursday, December 4 — Hawks vs Phoenix

📅 Saturday, December 6 — Hawks vs Taipans

📍 WIN Entertainment Centre

🎟️ Grab your tickets now via Ticketmaster