Illawarra Hawks have swatted aside the battling Brisbane Bullets, notching a 38-point win to keep the defending NBL champions in the finals hunt. The Hawks (10-17) improved to seventh -- two wins outside the play-in bracket with seven games to play -- thanks to Monday's comfortable 113-75 win in Brisbane. Missing seven players through injury, the last-placed Bullets (6-22) had few answers for the Hawks' depth as they sunk to a 15th loss from their past 16 games. Three-time NBA champion JaVale McGee (18 points, 10 rebounds in 17 minutes) barely broke a sweat, taking just three first-half shots before posturising eager Bullets forward Jacob Holt with a monstrous dunk early in the second half. Seemingly frustrated by another tardy start, Hawks coach Justin Tatum benched all of his five starters with the score 5-4 after five minutes. The visitors finished the term up 22-11 and didn't look back. They piled on 41 third-quarter points to lead by 44 points before the Bullets scored eight-straight from the restart to spoil the Hawks' attempts to better their highest-ever victory margin of 51. The Hawks made all 27 free-throw attempts, which is understood to be an NBL record. It was still Brisbane's biggest loss of a forgettable season, following a 32-point loss to Melbourne a week ago, and comes after the mid-season departure of rookie coach Stu Lash. Tyler Harvey found his groove with 22 points, six rebounds and five assists without a turnover. He was one of seven players to score in double figures, hitting form ahead of a blockbuster date with rivals Sydney on Thursday. Will Hickey had 17 points and seven assists while Daniel Grida was a spark with 13 points, three rebounds and two steals as the Hawks' bench contributed a staggering 78 points. Hunter Maldonado scored 20 for Brisbane while Taine Murray (14 points, six rebounds, five assists, no turnovers) had several eye-catching moments. The Bullets host Adelaide on the Gold Coast on Wednesday.