Triple treat as Hawks soar high on road to recovery

Triple Threat Powers Hawks to Road Victory

The Illawarra Hawks have gained momentum in their NBL championship pursuit thanks to a powerful triple threat performance. Combining a triple-double from Will "Davo" Hickey, sharp shooting by QJ Peterson, and dominance from JaVale McGee, the Hawks secured a 107-90 win over the Cairns Taipans on the road.

Hickey's Historic Triple-Double

Hickey recorded the first triple-double of the NBL season at the Cairns Convention Centre, finishing with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists. His all-around game set the tone early for the Hawks.

Shooting and Inside Strength

Peterson contributed 22 points, hitting four of six three-point attempts, while McGee was a force inside, scoring 28 points on 12-of-13 shooting, along with six rebounds and two assists.

Coach's Praise for Team Effort

“Our performance was really strong, especially coming off Wednesday playing at a high level and we didn't want to drop that intensity,” said Hawks coach Justin Tatum. “We understood Cairns was short-handed, so our mentality was to keep applying pressure. I loved the effort the guys played with.”

“They found ways to dominate and score in the paint and make it tough for Cairns.”

McGee's Continued Impact

McGee came into the game fresh from a career-best performance with 37 points and 14 rebounds in Wednesday’s home win. His presence remains central to the Hawks' dominance.

Cairns' Recent Form

The Cairns Taipans had ended a losing streak in Tasmania the previous Saturday but struggled to contain Illawarra's offensive pressure, especially McGee's impact inside.

Author's summary: The Illawarra Hawks boosted their championship drive with a standout triple threat performance, highlighted by Hickey’s season-first triple-double and McGee’s inside dominance.

Illawarra Mercury — 2025-11-07