2026-01-29

Sydney 122 - 104 Illawarra

Sydney earned a 122-104 victory over Illawarra by employing a balanced offensive attack and superior shooting efficiency. The Breakers shot 58.4% from the field and 53.6% from three-point range, numbers that Illawarra could not match despite a respectable 50% field goal percentage. The difference in effective field goal percentage (68.2% for Sydney vs. 55.1% for Illawarra) highlights this disparity, with Sydney hitting more than double the number of threes (15 to 8) while taking a comparable number of attempts. The Breakers' ball control was also a factor, as they committed 13 turnovers compared to Illawarra's 13, but their higher field goal percentage compensated, leading to more efficient scoring. In terms of rebounding, the Hawks had a slight edge on the offensive glass (14 to 12), but Sydney won the battle on the defensive glass 27-23, which helped them secure the win.

Sydney's offensive output was driven by three standout performers. Tim Soares had a strong showing with 23 points, shooting 9-of-14 from the field and 5-of-6 from deep, while Makuach Maluach added 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting. Kendric Davis also contributed 22 points and 9 assists, providing playmaking support. For Illawarra, Tyler Harvey led all scorers with 25 points, connecting on 7-of-12 shots and 4-of-9 threes. JaVale McGee added 17 points and 9 rebounds. Sydney's superior shooting and balanced scoring allowed them to build a lead and maintain it throughout the game, ultimately winning by 18 points.

Box Score Shooting Lineups