Hawks win Game Four, force NBL title decider

The Illawarra Hawks pulled off an unexpected victory against Melbourne United on Wednesday night, winning 80-71 in a crucial fourth game of the NBL Grand Final Series. This win ties the series at 2-2 and sets up a decisive game five on Sunday. The Hawks were missing key players, including superstar Trey Kell III, who could not play due to a knee injury. Center Sam Froling also left the game early with an Achilles injury. Despite these setbacks, the Hawks showed great determination. Guard Will Hickey led the Hawks with an impressive performance, scoring 22 points and providing eight assists. He set a strong tone for the team right from the start. Young player Lachie Olbrich stepped up to fill the gap left by Froling's departure, contributing 13 points and six rebounds. On the other side, veteran Matthew Dellavedova was a standout for United, scoring 17 points and recording seven rebounds. However, United's other key players struggled, particularly Chris Goulding and Ian Clark, who had off nights shooting the ball. The Hawks began the game strongly, taking an early 10-2 lead. Although United managed to lead at halftime, the Hawks fought back in the second half. Darius Days made a crucial three-pointer to secure the late-game lead. Both teams will look to improve their performances as they head into the final game of the series. The Hawks will need to find a way to play without Froling if he is unable to return, while United aims to recover their scoring touch.