‘We can’t be stopped’: Unwanted NBL record broken as title contenders stunned in wild blitz
The Illawarra Hawks secured their first win of the NBL season by defeating the Adelaide 36ers 114-92. Led by Kelan Martin's 28 points, the Hawks dominated early and maintained their lead throughout the match.
Why it matters
This victory marks a significant turnaround for the Hawks, who were the league's only winless team, and highlights the competitive nature of the current NBL season.
BASKETBALL ‘We can’t be stopped’: Unwanted NBL record broken as title contenders stunned in wild blitz 'I've got to work through some things!" | 01:38 Brett Keeble from Newswire October 2nd, 2026 9:30 pm Not even their fiercely loyal fans who pack into the Sandpit could have seen this coming.
The Illawarra Hawks are finally on the board this NBL season after stunning title favourites Adelaide 36ers 114-92 at WIN Entertainment Centre on Friday night.
After road losses to Sydney (121-100), Brisbane (103-95) and New Zealand (103-98), the Hawks went into their first home game of the season as the league’s only winless team with an unwanted 0-3 record.
But the 2024-25 champions looked anything but cellar-dwellers against the 2025-26 runners-up and ultimately cruised to their first victory of this campaign, and only their second from their past nine games against the 36ers.
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