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Hawks Suffer Shock Home Loss to Understrength Taipans
6 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Illawarra Hawks lost to an under-strength Cairns Taipans 93-76.
- The Taipans secured victory despite missing key players, including Jack McVeigh.
- This defeat marked the Hawks' sixth straight loss after an overtime game.
The Illawarra Hawks experienced a significant setback in their NBL title defence, succumbing to a surprising 93-76 defeat against a depleted Cairns Taipans squad at the WIN Entertainment Centre. The Taipans, missing key players including Jack McVeigh, demonstrated superior defence and physicality, overpowering the Hawks.
This loss continues a worrying trend for the Hawks, as it marks their sixth consecutive defeat immediately after an overtime game. The team now holds a 5-10 win-loss record. The Taipans, despite their limitations, led by as many as 23 points late in the third quarter, showcasing their resilience.
Individually, Andrew Andrews led the Taipans with a career-high 27 points, supported by strong performances from Admiral Schofield and Kyrin Galloway. For the Hawks, Dan Grida was a bright spark off the bench with a personal best 18 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Taipans' dominant performance.
