Illawarra Hawks level NBL title series against Melbourne United in game-two thriller

Tyler Harvey hit the game-winning basket as Illawarra hit back to level the NBL championship series with a gutsy road win over Melbourne United.

Star imports Harvey and Trey Kell recovered from poor game-one showings to lead the Hawks to a thrilling 102-100 victory at John Cain Arena on Wednesday night.

Tyler Harvey of the Hawks celebrates a three-pointer.Credit: Getty Images

It leaves the best-of-five series locked at 1-1 ahead of the next clash in Wollongong on Sunday.

In a dramatic finish to game two, the Hawks gave up an 11-point three-quarter time lead and fell behind in the dying stages when Harvey fouled Ian Clark, who drained all three free-throws to put Melbourne up by one point.

Harvey then responded with a huge three in Clark’s face from right in front of the United bench to put the Hawks up by two.

Melbourne had six seconds to find a response but Chris Goulding’s attempted buzzer-beater rattled out.

Matthew Dellavedova dishes off a pass under pressure from Hawk Hyunjung Lee.Credit: Getty Images

It was a disastrous night for United, who gave up their series lead and lost Shea Ili after a head knock before half-time.

Two-time defensive player of the year Ili, who has a long history of concussion, must now be in doubt for the rest of the series.

Foul trouble and turnovers hampered United throughout as starters Jack White and Rob Loe both sat out long periods.

Harvey scored a team-high 24 points for Illawarra with Sam Froling (23) and Kell (18) also influential.

United’s Shea Ili in action during the game two battle in Melbourne.Credit: Getty Images

Clark (31 points) was almost the hero for Melbourne, while Goulding (17) fired in bursts.

Kell had 10 first-quarter points – more than the six he scored for the entirety of game one – and scores were locked at 29-29 at the end of a tight opening period.

United were 7-of-9 from long range to that point but had also coughed up six turnovers and sent Illawarra to the foul line too often.

Harvey sparked the Hawks into action in the second period as United stars White, Loe and Lee found foul trouble.

But the visitors’ 51-49 lead at half-time should have been more, only for late breakdowns to open the door for United.

Melbourne reappeared after the main break without Ili and Froling exerted his influence early in the third term, with the Hawks leading by as much as 11 points.

The score stood at 82-71 with one period left and it was Clark who gave Melbourne the impetus with the home side’s first eight points of the term.

The game hung in the balance when Clark and Harvey traded blows in the final few seconds before Goulding’s near miss settled the contest.

Only one of nine post-season games this year had been won by the away team before the championship series, but both games in the title decider have now been won by the travelling outfit.

Game 1: Delly proves worth as Melbourne United score comeback win

Matthew Dellavedova showed he was still a match-winner while Illawarra coach Justin Tatum said it was up to his players, not the referees, to find solutions after Melbourne United won game one on Saturday night.

Dellavedova and United struggled from the three-point line and trailed for much of the match before he teamed with Chris Goulding and Ian Clark to steer Melbourne to a 96-88 win over the Hawks in Wollongong.

Dellavedova, who reportedly stalled contract talks until after the season, made two crucial three-pointers and threw an alley-oop pass to Jack White in the final stages to finish with a team-high 18 points as United put the defensive clamps on the high-scoring Hawks who had 53 points at half-time but just 35 thereafter.

Melbourne United’s Matthew Dellavedova drives to the basket against Illawarra’s Mason Peatling.Credit: Getty Images

The victory was a priceless one for Melbourne who don’t have home court advantage in this best-of-five series. They needed to win at least one away game to have a chance at claiming their first title since 2021, while the loss will be a blow for the Hawks who topped the ladder during the regular season.

Tatum said his side had to fight back against Melbourne’s physical defence and struggling imports Trey Kell III (six points) and Tyler Harvey (nine points) would bounce back in game two on Wednesday.

“You guys saw Trey’s reaction after he played bad the first game of the [semi-final] series,” Tatum said.

“Trey and Tyler are true professionals. I don’t need to harp on it too much, just find ways to get them going and then let them know everything’s going to be fine.

“I think Trey and Tyler, I know for sure, will come back ready to go on Wednesday.”

Melbourne United’s Jack White defends a dunk attempt by Illawarra’s Sam Froling.Credit: Getty Images

Tatum shrugged off questions about his testy interaction with veteran referee Vaughan Mayberry late in his club’s semi-final win last Wednesday where the coach’s microphone picked him up telling Mayberry he wouldn’t talk to him as “you don’t like my kind”.

“You can take it as you want,” Tatum said.

“I don’t remember the situation and all I’m worried about is tonight’s game.”

Mayberry, who has won the last four NBL referee of the year awards, didn’t referee game one with Michael Aylen, Chris Reid and Nico Fernandez running the game. The NBL confirmed on Sunday that Mayberry is a Queensland resident and was unable to fly to Wollongong due to Cyclone Alfred. The league hopes he will be available later in the series.

Illawarra coach Justin Tatum.Credit: Getty Images

Tatum said he had no problem with Mayberry officiating games in this series.

Tatum was fined $3000 in October for calling referees “incompetent” following a loss to Melbourne United, after that game he questioned in the post-game press conference whether the referees were intimidated by his tall build, deep voice or dark skin.

“The referees are who they are and there is nothing to be said about them,” Tatum said after game one.

“Whatever I say or don’t say about the referees, the NBL will use against me.

Melbourne United’s Ian Clark throws a pass.Credit: Getty Images

“They just used my quotes from the last game, that they fined me for, to pump up this game so the officials and the NBL don’t need any extra attention. It’s all about wins and loses with us and the Hawks.”

Chris Goulding had just four points in the first three quarters but he found his range in the last to finish with 15 points while Clark was a constant threat with 14 points while centre Marcus Lee was outstanding with 14 points, 15 rebounds and two blocks.

“I thought he [Dellavedova] had an elite second half,” United coach Dean Vickerman said.

“His response and our whole team’s response was fantastic. There was a search to try and continue to get CG [Goulding] open and, at times, it left Delly open at the end of the shot clock for floaters or open threes and he was good enough to knock them down.”

It was far from Melbourne’s best performance but they showed the grit needed to grind out a win under the bright lights.

“They are a really great team so we had to throw a punch first,” Lee told ESPN post game

“I took it personally, I knew my team needed me and I had their back.”

With AAP