The Brisbane Bullets opened their National Basketball League campaign with a composed 103–95 victory over the Illawarra Hawks at a lively home arena on Thursday night, turning a tight contest into a statement win with a decisive third-quarter surge. A 28-point burst after halftime broke open a game that had been separated by just three points at the main break, and Brisbane's poise at the free-throw line in the closing minutes ensured the Hawks never completed their comeback.

Match Overview

The Bullets controlled the tempo for long stretches, pushing the ball in transition and punishing Illawarra on the offensive glass. The Hawks stayed within reach thanks to efficient perimeter shooting and a productive second unit, but they could not match Brisbane's physicality inside when the game tightened in the final period.

• Final score: Brisbane Bullets 103, Illawarra Hawks 95
• Quarter scores: 26–22, 24–25, 28–21, 25–27
• Competition: National Basketball League
• Date: 25 September 2026
• Result: Brisbane Bullets win by 8 points

How the Game Unfolded

Brisbane came out with intent, attacking the rim early and forcing Illawarra into help rotations that opened up open looks from the wing. A 26-point opening quarter gave the home side a four-point cushion, but the Hawks responded in the second with a patient half-court offence, working the pick-and-roll and finding shooters in the corners. By halftime the margin had been trimmed to 50–47, and the game felt like it would come down to the final few possessions.

Instead, the Bullets took control immediately after the interval. A 12–2 run in the first four minutes of the third quarter pushed the lead into double digits, fuelled by defensive stops and quick outlet passes that turned rebounds into easy transition baskets. Illawarra's coaching staff burned two timeouts trying to slow the momentum, and while the Hawks stabilised late in the period, they trailed 78–68 heading into the fourth.

Key Moments

• Third-quarter burst: Brisbane's 12–2 run to open the second half created the game's first meaningful separation.
• Defensive stand: Back-to-back blocks and a charge drawn in the paint killed an Illawarra rally midway through the third.
• Late three-pointer: A contested triple from the wing with under three minutes remaining pushed the lead back to ten and effectively sealed the result.
• Free-throw execution: The Bullets went 8-of-9 from the line in the final two minutes to close out the win.

Tactical Story

The decisive factor was the battle inside. Brisbane generated second-chance points throughout the night, repeatedly extending possessions with offensive rebounds and drawing fouls on the follow-up. That interior pressure also opened up the perimeter, as Illawarra's defence collapsed and left shooters free on the arc.

Illawarra's best stretches came when they played small and spread the floor, using quick ball movement to create open threes and attacking close-outs off the dribble. That approach worked in the second quarter and again in the fourth, when the Hawks cut the deficit to six. But the visitors struggled to defend without fouling, and Brisbane's ability to get to the line consistently proved the difference in a game decided by single-digit margins.

Standout Performers

Brisbane's backcourt set the tone, combining for a high-efficiency scoring night while controlling the pace of the game. The Bullets' frontcourt delivered a strong two-way performance on the boards, protecting the rim and finishing through contact. Off the bench, Brisbane received a valuable scoring spark in the second quarter that kept the home side in front when the starters rested.

For Illawarra, the guard rotation kept the Hawks competitive with timely shot-making, and the team's wing defenders generated several turnovers that turned into transition points. The Hawks' centre battled hard on the glass against a bigger Brisbane front line, but foul trouble limited his minutes in the second half and forced Illawarra into smaller line-ups.

Season Impact

The win gives Brisbane early momentum in the NBL standings and an important head-to-head edge over a fellow playoff contender. Winning the first meeting between the clubs matters not only for confidence but for tiebreakers later in the season, when the race for finals seeding typically tightens.

For the Hawks, the loss is a frustrating but instructive one. Illawarra showed enough offensive quality to compete with the league's stronger sides, and the margin was built on rebounding and free-throw differentials — areas that are correctable. Both teams now turn their attention t