ANOTHER huge showing from star import JaVale McGee sparked the Illawarra Hawks to an impressive victory in a must-win National Basketball League (NBL) encounter against the Brisbane Bullets on Thursday night.

The Hawks welcomed the Bullets to WIN Entertainment Centre last night, in what was a crucial matchup for both sides in the back half of the season. Both Illawarra and Brisbane sat in the bottom third of the ladder in eighth and ninth respectively, and a win here would help one of these teams remain in touch with the top six, while the equation would become much more difficult for the loser.

Not much separated the sides for most of the contest, with both clubs eager to get back on the winners’ list in Wollongong on Thursday, but in the final minutes of the match, Illawarra’s class shone through. The reigning champions were able to break free of the shackles, ending the match on a 16-2 run to emerge 15-point winners at home and move to 6-10 on the season.

Once again, McGee was immense in the result of the match, showing his ability to take over a match is still well and truly prominent, and will be vital in the Hawks’ charge towards a finals spot in the coming months.

Illawarra Hawks (100) def. Brisbane Bullets (85)

JaVale McGee – 30 points, 10 rebounds, two steals, two blocks

The MVP contender was at his brilliant best against the Bullets at WIN Entertainment Centre on Thursday night, dominating the paint to help lead the Hawks to an important result in the context of their championship defence.

The big man hit the scoreboard a few minutes into the match with a nice hookshot over the opposition defence, getting himself going for the game. Although he was quieter in the minutes that followed and spent some time on the bench, McGee chimed in late in the quarter with a strong and-one finish at the cup, which he converted promptly, although the Hawks still trailed by 10 points at the first change.

The three-time NBA Champion continued to make an impact on the scoreboard in the second quarter, nailing a pair of free throws as well as his timing on a pair of alley-oops as the Hawks erased the deficit. McGee stole the ball from Mitch Norton shortly after and threw down the dunk in transition to light up WIN Entertainment Centre, and Illawarra was well and truly back. He also chipped in defensively by swatting a three-pointer from Jacob Holt as the margin was trimmed to one point at the main change.

It was a quieter third quarter for McGee by his lofty standards, although the big man still had some eye-catching plays. He threw down another dunk just after half time, as well as nailing a nice floater shortly after to keep the Hawks in the match after the Bullets looked to break away once again. However, he could not find the bottom of the net for the remainder of the quarter, but Illawarra still managed to lead by three at the final break.

McGee asserted himself on both ends of the floor in the fourth quarter, blocking a layup from his Brisbane counterpart in Tyrell Harrison, as well as hitting the scoreboard down the other end with more baskets inside the paint. His ability to finish inside despite the defence trying to put pressure on his shots was the difference in the match, with a layup and another and-one on back to back plays sealing the match for the Hawks.

McGee finished the contest with 30 points on 13/19 shooting from the field and a perfect 4/4 from the charity stripe to go with 10 boards, two steals and two blocks in a huge performance. If the Hawks are to defend their title, the big man looms as a central figure, and he proved that again last night.