DrinkWise Preview: NBL23 - Round 9, Game 2 v Illawarra Hawks

Written by Melbourne United Media

Melbourne United will look to bring an end to its four game losing streak when the side heads on the road to face the Illawarra Hawks for game two of the LifeChanger Cup series on Monday evening.

Needing an important victory to kick-start the second half of the season, United will aim to extend its six-game winning streak at the WIN Entertainment Centre.

For the Hawks, there is perhaps no team in the NBL more in need of a win, with Illawarra having lost its past nine straight games.

PLAYER TO WATCH

With Isaac Humphries sidelined for the clash with COVID, Marcus Lee will again be asked to carry a heavy load for United.

Lee has impressed in his past two games, tallying 10 points, eight rebounds and a pair of blocks in each.

Acting as an exciting vertical threat on both ends, look for Lee to once again impact the game with his athleticism and explosiveness.

KEY MATCHUP

After producing one of the best late-game showdowns of the season in their first meeting, the matchup between Xavier Rathan-Mayes and Tyler Harvey will be one to watch on Monday night.

Both leading their sides respectively in scoring, the former teammates will do battle once again, however the result may ultimately come down to who can create better for their teammates.

XRM ranks in the top ten for league assists, while Harvey has struggled in that department, averaging more turnovers than dimes through the first half of the season.

THE OTHER GUYS

One Hawk who will be hoping to put together a similar performance to the last time the two sides met will be Sam Froling, who had a career night, tallying 27 points and 15 rebounds.

He will look for support from new addition Michael Frazier, who scored 17 points in his debut last week.

Payton Siva will aim to keep his form up since joining the team, feeding the likes of Majok Deng and Mangok Mathiang for easy looks inside and out.

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GAME INFO

Who: Melbourne United vs Illawarra Hawks

Tip off: 7:30pm (AEDT), Monday 5 December, 2022

Where: WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong

Watch: ESPN via Kayo and Foxtel