Game Recap: Hawks vs Brisbane Bullets | RD6 NBL27

We went down 98-81 to the Brisbane Bullets at the WIN Entertainment Centre, but the fight in this one was worth watching. We trailed 25-16 after the first quarter and by 20 at half-time, then came out of the break and won the third 27-14, cutting the gap to three and bringing the Gong to its feet. Brisbane answered by taking the fourth 29-19, and the Bullets now lead the season series 2-0.

Blanchfield keeps the fuse lit

Todd Blanchfield was our spark off the bench in just his second game back after a month out with a broken wrist, finishing with 19 points on 6 of 12 shooting, three threes and a perfect 4 of 4 from the line in just over 19 minutes. When Brisbane’s early run had us down 19-29 in the second quarter, his wing three momentarily stopped the bleeding, and a corner three followed to keep us within reach. In the third he hit a three in transition and drew the foul for a four-point play that made it 56-59, then added an and-one in the fourth. Every time we needed a basket to keep the contest alive, he found one, and he led a bench that outscored Brisbane’s 39-31.

Head coach Justin Tatum said after the game:

“He was a vocal leader... it wasn’t just the shots that he made, it was just him, his presence on the floor... Todd is a professional, and he did a really good job for us today.”

Twenty down, then 21-4

The third quarter was ours. We opened it with a 21-4 burst that cut a 20-point deficit to three, from 35-55 to 56-59. Tyler Harvey started it with a three. Makur Maker put back an offensive rebound, Sam Froling drove for a layup over outstretched hands and then went inside for another, and Maker took a strong one in traffic and was fouled. Johny Narkle hit a three, Daniel Grida scored off a steal on an inbound, and the roof erupted when Harvey drew a charge on Jaylin Williams. Narkle blocked a Murray three, and Grida and Harvey forced another turnover. Brisbane steadied to lead 69-62 at the final break.

Grida’s glide, Froling’s finish

Daniel Grida gave us energy every time he stepped on the floor, going 4 of 4 for eight points with two assists, a steal and a block. After the steal-and-score in the third he glided in for another layup, cut baseline for one more early in the fourth, and later rose for a two-handed block.

Co-captain Sam Froling pointed to Grida as the standard:

“He brings his energy... We need everyone on the court to have that same energy that Grida carries for us to win multiple games.”

Froling was just as efficient himself, going 7 of 9 for 14 points with six rebounds, three of them offensive, and drew a charge on Tyrell Harrison for his third personal.

The pair finished +5 each, the only two Hawks to come out on the right side of the ledger in a game where Brisbane led for most of it. Tyler Harvey finished with 12 points, four threes, four assists and two steals. Makur Maker added seven points, six rebounds, Milton Doyle had eight points and four assists, and Johny Narkle capped his night with a dunk in the fourth.

Where the game got away

Another slow start cost us. Brisbane scored the last seven points of the first quarter, from 16-18 to 16-25, and we were chasing from there. The glass and the paint told the rest of the story. The Bullets won the rebounding 53-31, including 18 offensive rebounds to our 11, and outscored us 58-36 in the paint and 20-15 on second-chance points.

They shot 50 per cent from the field (37 of 74) while making only five threes. At the line Brisbane made six more free throws than us, 19 to 13, and we gave up 25 fouls to their 20. We forced 17 turnovers, seven of them from Jaylin Williams, but turned them into just seven points. We also hit only 10 of 41 from three, and our 15 assists sat well below the 21.7 a game we came in averaging.

In the fourth, Harrison went to work inside, as we missed six threes in a row, and the Bullets stretched it to 69-83 with three minutes left.

Hinton and Harrison led Brisbane

Nate Hinton led all scorers with 21 on 8 of 16, adding six assists and three steals. Tyrell Harrison, back in the Bullets’ lineup after injury, had 14 points and eight rebounds, four of them offensive. Max Mackinnon scored 14 with seven rebounds, but hit just one of four from three after the six he made against us in Round 2.

The roof came off

Hawkheads dragged us back into this one. The energy in the building was palpable as the third quarter turned, from Harvey’s charge to Grida’s steal and layup that cut the gap to seven. Early in the fourth, Metallica’s Enter Sandman blasted through the arena and Grida cut baseline, finishing a gliding layup with his famous mullet flying keeping Hawks close before Bullets pulled away late.

Before, during and after

The game was only part of the day at the WIN Entertainment Centre. Before tip-off, fans got a closer look at the action with our Warm-Up Court Walk experience, and for NBL Rookie Round, kids formed a guard of honour as both teams ran out. Bunnings Courtside Access put kids courtside for pre-game warm-ups before the rest of the crowd was let in, then back on the court after the final siren with our development players for a mini clinic.

At half-time, the Peoplecare mini hoopers took over the floor.

In CMG Midcourt Mayhem, our contestant made it all the way to the halfway shot, but missed the attempt before time expired. The halfway shot is still up for grabs, and it could be you at our next home game. Register for your chance.

Hawkheads, make the call

Greater Bank, the Hawks’ Major Community Partner, presents the fan vote for the Greater Bank Game MVP after every game, home and away. Here are the numbers: Todd Blanchfield, 19 points, three threes and 4 of 4 from the line. Sam Froling, 14 points on 7 of 9 with six rebounds. Daniel Grida, eight points on 4 of 4 with two assists, a steal and a block. Tyler Harvey, 12 points, four threes, four assists and two steals. The argument is yours.

Perth next, then the road

Our next game is Round 7 away to the Perth Wildcats at RAC Arena on Saturday 31 October, tipping off at 9:30pm, the first of five straight away games and the start of a month away from home. Every game is live on ESPN Disney+.

We are back at the WIN Entertainment Centre on Thursday 19 November, when Adelaide visit for Indigenous Round.

Head to our socials for highlights and photos from the game, and check the full boxscore.

HUNGRY JACK’S NBL27 (Boxscore)
Illawarra Hawks 81 (Blanchfield 19, Froling 14, Harvey 12)
Brisbane Bullets 98 (Hinton 21, Mackinnon 14, Harrison 14)

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