Hurt ensures Phoenix soar to Game 3

The ultimate redemption from a horror start to NBL25 is still alive for the South East Melbourne Phoenix with Matt Hurt and Nathan Sobey combining for 55 points as they beat the Illawarra Hawks 101-94 in Game 2 of the NBL Playoffs.

The Hawks had finished the regular season in top spot for the first ever time before winning Game 1 at home on Friday night 101-94 to be one win away from a first Championship Series since 2017.

The Phoenix are attempting to reach their first ever Championship Series and having started NBL25 with five straight losses and then having three head coaches in the space of five games, it's been a stunning turnaround.

They then showed great heart to shake off that Game 1 loss to win at John Cain Arena on Sunday with the identical scoreline and the difference was Hurt in the end.

After struggling with just 10 points on six shot attempts on Friday night, the All-First Team representative was unstoppable leading South East Melbourne with 30 points with 4/7 three-point shooting to see the series into a decider back in Wollongong on Wednesday.

It was a 35-point fourth quarter that saw the Phoenix come from two points down at three quarter-time to get the win with forcing the Hawks into 13 turnovers from which they scored 19 points off crucial.

The 18 fast break points also was important with the Phoenix able to get the stops to then push the pace unlike for a lot of Game 1.

Sobey added 25 points and eight rebounds while Angus Glover chipped in with 16 points, five rebounds and five assists, Owen Foxwell 10 points, Joe Wieskamp nine points and seven boards, and Jordan Hunter six points and eight rebounds.

Phoenix coach Josh King said he was proud of the way his team contained key Hawks players and held their nerve, with the lead changing hands 13 times.

"I thought for the most part we kind of controlled the game," he said.

"It was a back-and-forth game, but I thought we really controlled it.

"They're a really good team, they've got a lot of good players and they can put you in a lot of tough spots, but I thought we did a really good job on their key guys."

The Hawks will be kicking themselves over shooting just 17/29 at the foul line with Game 1 heroes Tyler Harvey (10 points on 3/13 shooting) and Trey Kell III (six points on 1/10 with five turnovers) struggling.

Davo Hickey top-scored with 19 points with six rebounds and four assists with Sam Froling adding 11 points and five rebounds, and Daniel Grida an energetic eight points, six boards and two steals.

"Guys have got to take more pride in doing their best to make their free throws, taking advantage of the opportunity," said Hawks coach Justin Tatum.

 "We missed a lot, clearly, but we'll bounce back - anything can decide a playoff game.

"We've just got to get better, we have no choice. We want to win the grand final, we've got to win Wednesday."

After his rough Game 1, it was only fitting that Matt Hurt scored the game's first basket to give South East Melbourne a good start on their home floor with Nathan Sobey helping them to the 5-2 opening.

Hurt then hit a three ball too but the Hawks got a spark from their own Game 1 struggler, Darius Days, who came on for eight quick points. By quarter-time the scores were all square at 24-24 with the two teams combining for 20 free-throw attempts in that first 10 minutes.

South East Melbourne made their move early in the second stanza with Hurt completing a three-point play and then landing a three ball before Angus Glover got in on the act as part of an 11-0 run.

The Phoenix would score another seven straight points kickstarted with a third triple of the half from Hurt as the lead got out to as much as 13 points. The Hawks fired back and 11 offensive rebounds for 11 second chance points were a big factor in cutting the home team's lead to 51-47 at the break.

Hurt had 19 points in that first half but he wouldn’t score for seven and-a-half minutes in the third quarter. His direct opponent, Mason Peatling, helped bring the Hawks right back into the contest.

Eventually Trey Kell III made his first shot of the game too after seven straight misses and when Davo Hickey landed a three ball, the scores were all tied.

Hurt answered immediately with his only three points of the quarter but it was the Hawks outworking the Phoenix all of a sudden as they finished the period with a 7-2 run to lead 68-66 heading into the fourth.

South East Melbourne were back in front with Glover and Hurt scoring to start the fourth quarter. On their home floor the Phoenix weren't going to let it slip having overcome plenty already in NBL25.

Sobey, Glover and Joe Wieskamp all hit dagger three-pointers and the Hawks lost their three-point clutch weapon when Harvey fouled out late, and the Phoenix closed the deal for the seven-point win.

Game 3 will now take place on Wednesday night back in Wollongong with the winner to face either Melbourne United or the Perth Wildcats in the Championship Series starting next weekend.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL PLAYOFFS 2025 – GAME 2

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 101 (Hurt 30, Sobey 25, Glover 16)

ILLAWARRA HAWKS 94 (Hickey 19, Froling 11, Harvey 10)

BOX SCORE