DrinkWise Preview: NBL25 - Championship Series Game 3 v Illawarra Hawks

After a thrilling Game 2 on Wednesday evening, we will head back on the road for a crucial matchup with the Illawarra Hawks in Game 3 of the Hungry Jack’s Championship Series.

With both sides having taken home wins on the other’s home court, the series remains firmly hanging in the balance.

A win in Wollongong would be huge for us, as it would set up a potentially Championship clinching opportunity for Game 4 back in Melbourne.

WHO’S HOT, WHO’S NOT

(Past five games)
United - W, L, W, W, L

Hawks - W, L, W, L, W

While our Game 2 performance was far from our best of the season, elite shooting kept us in the contest until the final shot of the evening.

We connected on 15 long-range makes at over 45% shooting. In the five other games across NBL25 we had made at least 15 three-pointers, we had a 5-0 record.

For the Hawks, a renewed effort on the glass was their match-winner.

Illawarra won the rebound count by seven, while pulling down 22 offensive boards to create massive extra possessions down the stretch.

When winning the rebound tally, Illawarra has a 19-4 record this season. 

STARS COLLIDE

In a battle of American stars, Ian Clark and Tyler Harvey had an all-time shoot-out in Game 2.

The pair traded huge shots down the stretch, with Harvey, much to the dismay of our fans, coming away with the last laugh.

Clark’s fourth-quarter performance was however awe-inspiring, as the former NBA Champion tallied 16 of his 31 points across his 8 minutes of the final period.

Look for both players to try and get open early and often on Sunday evening.

GAME INFO

Who: Melbourne United vs Illawarra Hawks

Tip-off: 5:30pm AEDT, Sunday 15 March, 2025

Where: WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong

Watch: ESPN