Controversial Finish Mars Thrilling NBL Encounter
The Illawarra Hawks experienced pure heartbreak on Friday night when JaVale McGee's miraculous half-court three-pointer was disallowed after the final buzzer, handing Melbourne United a dramatic 105-102 victory at WIN Entertainment Centre.
Replay reviews confirmed the NBA veteran's spectacular attempt came just moments after time expired, leaving the home crowd stunned and the Hawks players devastated. The loss drops Illawarra to a 4-9 record heading into the FIBA break, compounding their difficult NBL season.
McGee's Heroic Performance Not Enough
JaVale McGee delivered an outstanding individual performance for the Hawks, finishing with 28 points and 11 rebounds in what proved to be a dominant display. The experienced center was instrumental throughout the contest and nearly became the hero with his last-gasp effort from beyond half-court.
Will 'Davo' Hickey also impressed with a double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds, while dishing out 7 assists. QJ Peterson emerged as a crucial contributor, particularly in the final quarter where he scored 13 of his 22 total points to keep the Hawks in contention.
Rollercoaster Contest Goes Down to the Wire
The round 10 clash lived up to its billing as a season-defining encounter for both clubs. Melbourne United established an early advantage, winning the first quarter 38-33 behind Milton Doyle's 11 opening-period points.
Illawarra responded strongly in the second term, mounting an 8-0 run to briefly take the lead before Chris Goulding's three-point shooting gave United a 58-52 halftime advantage.
The third quarter saw momentum swings continue as back-to-back threes from Mason Peatling and QJ Peterson brought the Hawks within two points. Hickey's smart lay-up then gave Illawarra their first lead since the opening period at 77-75 with 2:30 remaining.
The final quarter developed into a classic NBL thriller with multiple lead changes. Peterson's fourth-quarter heroics kept the Hawks competitive, while Hickey's basket with 29 seconds remaining put Illawarra ahead 102-101.
Finn Delaney responded immediately for United, draining a crucial three-pointer to reclaim the lead at 104-102 with just 17.5 seconds on the clock, setting up the dramatic final sequence that saw McGee's attempted miracle shot ruled too late.
The heartbreaking result leaves the Hawks with plenty to contemplate during the FIBA break as they look to resurrect their NBL campaign.
