Illawarra Hawks Face SE Melbourne Phoenix in NBL Semifinals Showdown

WOLLONGONG, Australia – The top-seeded Illawarra Hawks are set to square off against the SE Melbourne Phoenix on Friday, February 28, in Game 1 of their best-of-three NBL semifinals series at the Wollongong Entertainment Centre. This highly anticipated matchup follows a remarkable regular season for the Hawks, who finished with a 20-9 record, the best in their franchise history.

The Illawarra Hawks, a founding member of the NBL since its inception in 1979, secured their sole championship title in 2001. This year marks a significant achievement as they topped the league standings for the first time, signaling their strong performance heading into the postseason.

On the other side, the SE Melbourne Phoenix are relatively new to the league, being founded in 2018. Despite their short history, the Phoenix have quickly made a name for themselves, finishing fourth in the NBL ladder and defeating the Adelaide 36ers 85-75 in a thrilling play-in game to advance to the semifinals.

The upcoming game promises excitement, with fans eager to see how these two teams match up. Fans can watch the game live on ESPN with additional streaming options available through Kayo, which currently offers a free trial for new users.

Tip-off for the match is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. local time (AEDT), translating to 7:00 p.m. in Australian Central Daylight Time and 4:30 p.m. in Australian Western Standard Time. This time conversion allows fans across the country to follow the action live.

As the NBL heats up, this semifinal clash is crucial for both teams as they vie for a place in the grand finals. The Hawks will aim to leverage their experience and strong season, while the Phoenix look to make their mark in the playoff landscape.