Can Illawarra Extend Its Dominance Over Brisbane? Brisbane Bullets vs Illawarra Hawks Preview | September 25, 2026
Brisbane Bullets
Illawarra Hawks
Brisbane Bullets will host Illawarra Hawks at Brisbane Entertainment Centre on September 25 in the second round of the NBL season. Brisbane opened the campaign with a narrow win, while Illawarra will be looking to respond after losing its first game.
Match Preview
Brisbane started the new season with an 88-85 victory over New Zealand Breakers. Arnas Velicka was the standout performer with 23 points, five rebounds and 14 assists, while Tyrrell Harrison added 22 points and 7 rebounds. The win was particularly important after Brisbane had gone 15 consecutive games without a victory before ending that run in the season opener.
Home form was a major problem for Brisbane last season, as the team won just two games on its own court. The Bullets now have an early opportunity to match that total with another home victory, although their record against Illawarra in Brisbane has been evenly split recently. The teams have each won three of their last six meetings there, but the Bullets lost the last two.
Illawarra, meanwhile, opened the season with an 81-95 defeat to New Zealand Breakers. William Hickey led the Hawks with 18 points and nine rebounds. Last season, Illawarra finished eighth with a 13-20 record and won six of its 17 away games.
The Hawks have nevertheless dominated this matchup. Illawarra have won seven consecutive games against Brisbane, including a 113-75 victory in the most recent meeting. Their offensive production has also been particularly consistent, with the Hawks scoring more than 100 points in each of their last six games against the Bullets.
The contrasting results against New Zealand make this matchup even more interesting. Brisbane defeated the Breakers 88-85, while Illawarra lost 81-95. However, the Hawks' long winning streak against Brisbane suggests that the opening-round results may not tell the whole story.
Key Trends
- Illawarra have won 7 consecutive games against Brisbane.
- Illawarra scored more than 100 points in each of their last six meetings with the Bullets.
- The Hawks won the most recent meeting 113-75.
Prediction
Brisbane deserve credit for starting the season with a win, particularly after struggling at home throughout the previous campaign. However, Illawarra have consistently caused problems for Brisbane and have won the last seven meetings between the teams. The Hawks have also shown an exceptional ability to score against the Bullets, surpassing 100 points in each of the last six encounters. After an opening-round defeat, Illawarra should be highly motivated to respond, while the historical matchup remains a major factor. Brisbane's improved start makes this a more competitive contest than the recent head-to-head record might suggest, but the Hawks have the stronger track record in this particular matchup. Recommended Bet: Illawarra Hawks to Win
