In a see-sawing battle, Illawarra had their moments at John Cain Arena, but it was Law who proved the difference in a superb performance, mustering 29 points and nine rebounds as Brisbane prevailed 97-91.

Teammate Nathan Sobey was also excellent, finishing with 18 points, six assists and five turnovers.

For the Hawks, young gun Justinian Jessup finished with an NBL-high personal tally of 26 points, while Tyler Harvey had 15 points after a quiet first half. Justin Simon and Sam Froling mustered 13 points apiece.

In the end, Brisbane's 14-0 run to start the third quarter proved the difference between the teams.

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In Hawks captain AJ Ogilvy's 150^th NBL game, it was Jessup who started in red-hot form, scoring five points in the blink of an eye to give the Hawks a 9-5 lead. However, from there, the game ebbed and flowed for the rest of the quarter.

Illawarra's Next Star continued to threaten, assisting Simon for an impressive dunk, before Simon drained one from outside the paint. Both finished the first quarter with seven points. At the other end, Nathan Sobey led the charge with eight points, capping the quarter with a basket on the buzzer to give the Bullets a 27-25 lead at the opening break.

The Hawks came out firing in the second, led by Simon and Sam Froling. Simon nailed a three-pointer to give the side a 34-29 lead. But the twists continued, with Brisbane going on an 11-2 run to take a handy advantage with four minutes left in the term.

Once again, it was Jessup who stepped up, draining two three throws and a basket as the Hawks drew level at 40-40.

Jason Cadee's three-pointer looked like it could be a dagger in the heart for Illawarra late in the half, before Deng Adel's basket and five points from Cam Bairstow - including one from long-range - helped the Hawks take a 51-49 lead at the main break.

Jessup finished the half with 14 points and four rebounds, and Froling scored nine points, while Victor Law (12 points, four rebounds) and Sobey (10 points) were in hot form for the Bullets.

Brisbane did a great job containing Tyler Harvey in the first two quarters, with the Hawks star only managing four points.

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The Bullets came out firing in the third, going on 14-0 run thanks to 11 points from Law and a long-range Sobey basket. Brisbane also continued to stifle their opponents in defence as they took a 63-51 advantage.

Finally, it was Harvey who was able to break the run with back-to-back three-pointers, cutting the deficit to 63-57. After Sobey nailed a lay-up, Harvey was again able to hit a nice jump shot.

Sobey continued to be the Bullets' main threat, scoring from long range, before Jessup mustered back-to-back baskets to cut the margin to 68-66.

With three minutes left in the term, Jessup found the basket from outside the paint to go to a personal tally of 24 points, and give Illawarra a 69-68 lead.

The game then again turned on its head, with the Bullets going on a 9-0 run, which included Cadee nailing three straight free throws.

Ogilvy was able to steady the ship, making no mistake twice from the line, as the Hawks trailed 77-71 at the final break.

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Illawarra needed to start the last quarter well and they did that, with Simon's basket and Harvey scoring from outside the paint to cut the deficit to one. Momentum appeared to be with the Hawks, before Cadee's steal and ensuing basket helped Brisbane settle.

The teams continued to trade baskets - and the lead - during the final term, with the Bullets leading 83-82 heading into the last five minutes.

Brisbane then went on a 6-1 run, highlighted by a nice Law jump shot, which looked like it could be enough to ice the game.

But it was Simon who again stepped up, drawing a foul against Matt Hodgson, which led to Hodgson being fouled out.

Simon didn't miss either chance, before Deng Adel also mustered a basket, cutting the deficit to 89-87.

Bairstow then also scored a basket to draw level with 90 seconds left, before Jessup's jump shot saw the Hawks take a 91-89 advantage.

Brisbane's Froling stepped up to muster two free throws, as his side drew level at 91-91. Then, with nine seconds left, Adel gave away a costly foul, allowing Law to walk to the line.

Law didn't miss his chances, nailing both to give the Bullets a 93-91 advantage.

At the other end, Justin Simon missed a lay-up under heavy pressure from Brisbane's late in the fourth quarter. Simon missed the shot, with Deng Adel then sending Law to the free throw line. Jessup missed a subsequent attempt at lay-up, with Simon called for an unsportsmanlike foul, allowing the Bullets to ice the game from the line.