US import stars as Bullets thump out-of-sorts Hawks

Steve Barrett | October 24, 2026

Brisbane have weathered a third-quarter storm before strolling to a clinical 98-81 NBL victory over Illawarra.

The Bullets saw their 20-point halftime lead eroded to just three in the third quarter at Wollongong’s WIN Entertainment Centre on Saturday, before snapping out of their malaise to dominate the final term 29-19.

Import Nate Hinton compiled 21 points and six assists to lead the charge for Brisbane, who moved to a 4-4 record.

Veteran Todd Blanchfield scored 19 off the bench for the last-placed Hawks, who completed a disastrous round after being walloped by 24 points in Sydney on Thursday.

After eight early lead changes, Brisbane ripped away control with an 11-0 burst either side of three-quarter time.

The Hawks unravelled through cough-ups and offensive rebounds.

Illawarra had more turnovers (six) than field goals (five) in the first quarter, while Hinton was in the action at both ends with five assists and three steals in the opening term, at the end of which the Bullets led 25-16.

As bad as things were going for Illawarra, it got even worse in the second stanza, which the Bullets dominated 30-19, including a 10-2 finish to charge ahead 55-35 at halftime.

“The Hawks are showing literally no heart, whatsoever,” 2001 ‘Gong championship hero Damon Lowery said on ESPN.

Then, from out of nowhere, the Hawks flipped the script in the third period.

Bench energisers Blanchfield, Dan Grida and Johnny Narkle inspired a belated rally from Illawarra, who went on an 11-0 run amid an overall 21-4 surge to cut the margin to just three.

Suddenly, it was the Hawks pressing defensively, forcing Brisbane to turn the ball over.

But the home side couldn’t sustain it.

Hinton scored on the three-quarter time buzzer to ease the Bullets’ cushion back out to 69-61, before the visitors lifted their intensity at both ends once again to control the fourth term.