Illawarra Hawks level NBL finals series with road victory over Melbourne United in game two

The Illawarra Hawks narrowly defeated the Melbourne United on the road, tying the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) Grand Final series. Tyler Harvey prayed for a chance at redemption before hitting the game-winning shot, ultimately securing the victory for his team. This hard-fought win demonstrates the Hawks' resilience and determination to compete for the championship.

Star imports Harvey and Trae Kell recovered from their lackluster performance in Game 1, leading the Hawks to a thrilling 102-100 victory at John Cain Arena on Wednesday night. The win evens the best-of-five series at 1-1, with Game 3 set to take place in Wollongong on Sunday. The Hawks are now looking to capitalize on their momentum and take the lead in the series.

In a dramatic ending to Game 2, the Hawks relinquished an 11-point lead in the final quarter. Late in the game, Harvey fouled Ian Clark, who made all three free throws to give Melbourne a one-point lead. Harvey's prayers were answered as he hit a clutch three-pointer over Clark, in front of the United bench, to put the Hawks back in front. Melbourne had six seconds to respond, but captain Chris Goulding's three-point attempt bounced off the rim at the buzzer.

"I was so annoyed at myself for the offensive foul I had on Clark before that," Harvey said after the game. "During the timeout, I was just praying. I said, 'God, please give me an opportunity to redeem myself.' That was just a silly play that almost cost us the game, so I'm grateful my teammates trusted me to give me the ball. Sometimes it goes in, sometimes it doesn't. Tonight it went in." Harvey's humility and gratitude highlight the team's strong bond and shared commitment to success.

Harvey led Illawarra with a game-high 24 points, while Sam Froling (23 points) and Kell (18 points) also played significant roles. Clark (31 points) nearly became the hero for Melbourne, while Goulding (17 points) and Matthew Dellavedova (14 points) also contributed explosive performances. It was a disastrous night for United, who not only lost their series lead but also lost Shea Ili to a head injury in the first half. Ili, a two-time Best Defensive Player with a history of concussions, passed his head injury assessment, but his availability for the rest of the Grand Final series remains uncertain.

Melbourne committed 15 turnovers and allowed Illawarra 30 free throw attempts, with starters Jack White and Rob Loe spending extended periods on the bench due to foul trouble. The Hawks grabbed 22 offensive rebounds and outrebounded United 43-35 overall, but United remained competitive thanks to 56% shooting from the field and 47% from three-point range. "The rebounding's been a factor in both games, and 22 offensive rebounds is a big swing," United coach Dean Vickerman said. "We turned the ball over a lot more than we did the other night, and they made us pay for all of them."

Harvey and Kell combined for 16 points in the first quarter, surpassing their total output from Game 1, a hot start that was crucial for Illawarra to seize momentum in the second quarter. Froling asserted himself in the third quarter, and the Hawks controlled the game until Clark sparked United's comeback in the final quarter. Harvey admitted he thought Goulding's final shot was going in, but Vickerman conceded the play, which included a two-point and three-point option, didn't go as planned. "We didn't execute it exactly how we wanted to," he said. Prior to the Grand Final series, only one of the nine playoff games this year had been won by the road team, but now both games in the championship series have been won by the visitors.