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1-1: Hurt's record Game 2 inflicts pain on Hawks
Matt Hurt of the Phoenix shoots a free throw during game two of the NBL Semi Final Series between South East Melbourne Phoenix and Illawarra Hawks at John Cain Arena, on March 02, 2025, in Melbourne, Australia. Photo: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images
Matt Hurt records a South East Melbourne postseason points record as Phoenix beat Hawks in game two.
- Matt Hurt's 30 points was a franchise record for South East Melbourne in the postseason
- The Phoenix held Hawks backcourt Trey Kell and Tyler Harvey to a combined 16 points
- South East Melbourne's turned a two-point three-quarter time deficit into a seven-point win
A record-breaking performance from big man Matt Hurt has led the South East Melbourne Phoenix to a 101-94 win over the Illawarra Hawks in game two of their NBL semi-finals at John Cain Arena to send the series to a decider.
Hurt scored 30 points in the victory, on an efficient 11-from-19 shooting, which is a postseason record for the South East Melbourne franchise as they kept their season and chances of making their first grand final series alive..
The first half saw a closely fought contest, with the teams locked at 24-24 after the first quarter before the Phoenix edged ahead in the second, taking a narrow 51-47 lead into halftime. But the Hawks came out strong in the third quarter, outscoring the Phoenix 21-15 to take a 68-66 lead into the final period.
South East Melbourne found their offensive groove in the final quarter, outscoring the Hawks 35-26 in the final term, turning a two-point deficit into a seven-point victory with a crucial 12-2 run midway through the quarter, sparked by Hurt's sharpshooting, giving the Phoenix the momentum they needed to close out the game.
Hurt was obviously the standout for the game with his performance including four three-pointers, while for the Hawks, William Hickey provided a spark off the bench with 19 points in just 20 minutes of play, on an efficient 8-from-14 shooting, including 1-from-3 from beyond the arc, to keep the Hawks in contention during crucial stretches of the game.
The Phoenix's victory was built on a balanced offensive attack, with five players scoring in double figures. Nathan Sobey complemented Hurt's performance with 25 points and seven rebounds while Angus Glover added 16 points and five assists off the bench.
South East Melbourne limiting Hawks backcourt Trey Kell and Tyler Harvey, who combined for just 16 points after scoring 48 points between them in game one, was a key factor for the home side's win.
The result sends the series to a game three at WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong on Wednesday at 7.30pm AEST, with the NBL's other semi-finals series between Perth and Melbourne, also heading to a decider.
