From 42-point loss to heartbreak: Hawks show resilience in defeat to Adelaide
Heartbreak struck for the Illawarra Hawks after a narrow 90-88 loss to the Adelaide 36ers on Sunday afternoon. Following one of their lowest scores in franchise history, Illawarra delivered one of their strongest performances in NBL26.
With only 1.6 seconds remaining, Will "Davo" Hickey had two free throws that could have tied the game, but he missed both attempts.
Hickey's notable performance
Despite the misses, Hickey had an impressive game, leading the team with 20 points, along with nine rebounds, eight assists, and four blocked shots. He fell just one rebound and two assists short of becoming the second Indigenous player in league history to record a triple-double.
Team resilience and coach's perspective
Illawarra had not won in Adelaide in four years. Head coach Justin Tatum praised the team’s response, especially coming just 48 hours after a heavy 102-60 loss to the New Zealand Breakers in Wollongong.
"I tip my hat off to my team for coming back and having so much resilience and fighting them today. They gave a great effort on both ends of the floor, just a little bit unlucky," Tatum said.
"If my team plays like this every game from now on with a full, healthy roster, we can beat anybody."
Overall, despite the defeat, the Hawks showed determination and growth that could signal better results ahead.
Author's summary: The Illawarra Hawks demonstrated strong resilience and improved performance in a tight 90-88 loss to Adelaide, with Hickey nearly achieving a rare triple-double despite clutch free throw misses.