Hawks first hit out on the Gold Coast

It was the Hawks first hit out at the NBL Blitz this week at the Gold Coast Convention Centre, with Melbourne United leading throughout much of the game, with the final score 85-71. 

The Hawks matched United’s output across the first five minutes, however that all changed once Matthew Dellavedova checked into the contest.

He was instrumental in Melbourne leading 28-13 by quarter-time and despite Illawarra managing a 12-0 scoring run with Next Star AJ Johnson central to that in the second period, United remained in control 56-34 going into half-time.

Illawarra worked into the game better in the second half and considering it was a first hit out at the Blitz against a Melbourne team playing for a second time, the Hawks will have taken plenty out of the second half especially to outscore United 37 points to 29 and cut the final margin to 14.

Mason Peatling top-scored for Illawarra against the team he played the first 87 games of his NBL career with. Coming off a championship in the NBL1 South with the Knox Raiders, Peatling delivered 13 points and two rebounds.

Tyler Harvey added 11 points and four assists for the Hawks, and Wani Swaka Lo Buluk 10 points and four boards.