Illawarra Hawks defeat Melbourne United in NBL thriller

The Illawarra Hawks secured a narrow 91-89 victory over Melbourne United at John Cain Arena, snapping a three-game losing streak. Despite Melbourne trailing by 13 points at the end of the third quarter, a strong second-half performance from Cole Anthony, who scored 20 of his 24 points in the final period, brought the hosts within striking distance.

Illawarra maintained their advantage through significant scoring runs and contributions from Makur Maker, who recorded 23 points off the bench. The game concluded on a dramatic final play when Melbourne’s Luke Travers missed a buzzer-beating three-point attempt. The loss causes Melbourne United to drop from fifth to eighth on the NBL ladder.