Bullets battle but fall to United

The Brisbane Bullets were defeated by Melbourne United, 104-88 at John Cain Arena on Saturday night.

Down on numbers, Brisbane fought hard but just couldn’t match the full strength Melbourne line-up for the full forty minutes.

Nathan Sobey put together another strong performance for the Bullets with 24 points including four triples. Jason Cadee contributed 14 points and five assists.

Gorjok Gak had his best game of his NBL career to date with 15 points and six rebounds and Tyler Johnson added 12 points and five rebounds. Aron Baynes returned for seven points and five rebounds in just 17 minutes.

Melbourne's intensity was up from the outset, opening up a 9-2 lead early. Brisbane then steadied with triples to  Baynes and Sobey. United then pulled away again pushing the margin out to 11.

Brisbane brought the energy and finished the quarter strong, with a 10-4 run including a late triple from Tyler Johnson to cut the United advantage to 28-23.

Melbourne opened the second period with the first eight points including long-range bombs from Goulding and Rayjon Tucker. But Jason Cadee kept the Bullets in touch and he scored 10 straight points for his team and brought the margin back to seven.

In the first half Cadee and Sobey combined for 19 points, but it was 10 turnovers that were costly for Brisbane as they trailed 50-41 at the main break.

The Bullets hit the opening six points of the third quarter to close to within three. The scores continued to yo-yo throughout the third but Melbourne held a 71-63 lead going into the final period.

The home side started the quarter well, but Brisbane kept comingincluding a couple of triples to Sobey and some big offensive plays from Gak to cut the deficit to seven mid-way through the final quarter. But Melbourne pushed the lead back out late in the term and went on to an eventual 16-pint win.

The Bullets next face the Taipans in Cairns on Wednesday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 10

MELBOURNE UNITED 104 (Tucker 20, Goulding 20, Lee 18)

BRISBANE BULLETS 88 (Sobey 24, Gak 15, Cadee 14) 

BOX SCORE