Hawks swoop towards playoff berth with win over Breakers

The Result

Illawarra Hawks 84 - NZ Breakers 73

The Story

The Illawarra Hawks are one win away from sealing a playoff position after a gutsy come-from-behind win over the New Zealand Breakers in Pukekohe, NZ.

It was a scratchy start for the Hawks - playing away from home for the last time this regular season - with the Breakers shooting out of the blocks to hold an early 16-11 lead at the first break.

Playing in front of a parochial Kiwi home crowd, shots just weren't dropping for the visitors until returning Illawarra legend Tim Coenraad nailed this three. The 35-year-old vet igniting the Hawks and their offensive mojo.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sweet Timmy C ? <a href="https://twitter.com/coenraad22?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coenraad22</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IllawarraProud?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IllawarraProud</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlyAsOne?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FlyAsOne</a> <a href="https://t.co/VYwKB9cJhL">pic.twitter.com/VYwKB9cJhL</a></p>— Illawarra Hawks Basketball (@illawarrahawks) <a href="https://twitter.com/illawarrahawks/status/1398190046402867202?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Tyler Harvey was at his destructive best early on, with the American star continuing his stellar form against the Breakers and dropping in 14 first half points.

This lovely move helping the Hawks pull within a pair just before the main break.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Our man <a href="https://twitter.com/YoungTRaaw?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@YoungTRaaw</a> with the rinse and range ??<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IllawarraProud?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IllawarraProud</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlyAsOne?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FlyAsOne</a> <a href="https://t.co/LivuBoc0An">pic.twitter.com/LivuBoc0An</a></p>— Illawarra Hawks Basketball (@illawarrahawks) <a href="https://twitter.com/illawarrahawks/status/1398191029988192257?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

A third quarter spurt saw the Hawks get after it on the defensive end, with Justin Simon rewarding big man Sam Froling for his two-way hustle with this lovely oop.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Reward the run ?‍?? <a href="https://twitter.com/samfroling_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@samfroling_</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/simon_Says_so?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@simon_Says_so</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IllawarraProud?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IllawarraProud</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlyAsOne?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FlyAsOne</a> <a href="https://t.co/yX5UMEf9sT">pic.twitter.com/yX5UMEf9sT</a></p>— Illawarra Hawks Basketball (@illawarrahawks) <a href="https://twitter.com/illawarrahawks/status/1398199192837791749?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Before Harvey put in his entry for offensive sequence of the year. The former Orlando Magic draftee pulling off a steal, a layup, another steal and an absurd three-ball to break the spirit and the hearts of the Breakers faithful.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WHAT. A. SEQUENCE! ?????? <a href="https://twitter.com/YoungTRaaw?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@YoungTRaaw</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IllawarraProud?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IllawarraProud</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlyAsOne?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FlyAsOne</a> <a href="https://t.co/I36TA22EeR">pic.twitter.com/I36TA22EeR</a></p>— Illawarra Hawks Basketball (@illawarrahawks) <a href="https://twitter.com/illawarrahawks/status/1398199499277824007?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Illawarra closing out the game in style to tighten their grip on fourth spot with a 84-73 win.

Harvey finishing with a game-high 30 points while Froling registered another massive performance (22 points and 8 rebounds) on his way to the NBL's Most Improved Player award this season.

The Stats

Tyler Harvey became the first player this season to have five steals and five three-pointers in a game tonight.

The Hawks 18th victory of NBL21 also marks the club's most wins in a regular season since 2006.

The shooting stats all favoured the Hawks in this clash - with the visitors leading FG% (44-40), 3P% (37-33) and FT% (68-50) in a rare occurrence.

The Hawks dominated on the glass with 45 rebounds to the Breakers 39, leading to 44 points in the paint to 32, and Illawarra also chipped in 13 second chance points to New Zealand's four.

As is usually the case, Brian Goorjian's men were frenetic in defence. The Hawks racking up 10 steals to seven, while also having the only two swats of the game.

Both benches were a non-factor in this one as neither second unit broke into double figures (9-6 to NZ).

Gettyimages 1320463459

The Fallout

"It's been an unbelievable slog for all teams and we've discussed New Zealand, I wont again, they've done it harder than anybody, but for all teams it's been very, very difficult and very long. And to be in the situation we're in now with a week to go and we've still got a chance. Just the importance is monumental for our new team and new organisation and this last week of the season and we just wanna make sure we leave everything out there in each one of those games and see where it takes us," Goorjian said.

"We're getting contributions from deeper in the bench than we did at the start of the season and with all these games coming in rapid fire, it's decided our season really. The fact that we have a chance, we're getting contribution from more bodies and we're starting to get some confidence and play better as a team, so yeah let's see where it takes us...[our starters] know we're gonna go to the bench, they know we've got contribution there and I think it's made us a better team," Goorjian said.

"Really excited about Sam [Froling] and the season he's had to date, and a tremendous talent for the future and having a tremendous season. And then AJ [Ogilvy] is another one, you look at what's gone on the past few years and now he's the captain of this and he's really the leader in a group that's forming a special culture. Those two, I know I'm talking about them all, there's a warm spot in my heart with what's going on with AJ this year and Froling is something we're gonna build around for the future," Goorjian said.

"Something we've kind of been aiming for the entirety of the year is to control our own destiny, that's what we want going down the stretch. I think for a while there we were kind of almost just chasing a feeling, trying to get the feeling right within the group around the middle of the season and now we don't necesarily speak about it but it's in the back of our heads. We know its crunch time, we know we need the results and so we're excited to go home, play in front of what should almost be a packed house we're hoping, but every game we're playing for our lives so we're going to bring that intensity to it on Sunday and go from there. But good geeling, happy that we can contol all of this and yeah we're confident," Hawks guard Isaac White said.

Gettyimages 1320459837