Bullets can't quite complete comeback

The Brisbane Bullets dug deep to overcome a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit to get back in front in the first Sunshine Stoush of NBL26 but it was the Cairns Taipans who prevailed in a thriller 83-82.

The Bullets arrived at Cairns Convention Centre on Friday night fresh off last week's impressive season-opening road win against the New Zealand Breakers.

However, they were without inspirational veteran point guard Mitch Norton and then lost defensive maestro Sam McDaniel early in the game to an ankle injury after he was set for a fascinating match up with Snakes star Jack McVeigh.

The Bullets were playing catch up for a lot of the evening and then fell 12 points down with just over six minutes to go, but they responded impressively to go on a 17-4 scoring run from there.

That saw Brisbane hit the front with just under two minutes to play, but after McVeigh put the Taipans back in front, the Bullets couldn’t quite get that one last winning shot with the Snakes prevailing by a solitary point.

Imposing Bullets centre Tyrell Harrison continued his strong start to NBL26 with another 22 points, seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and a monster block while shooting 9/11 from the field.

Javon Freeman-Liberty added 21 points, seven rebounds and five assists too for Brisbane with Casey Prather finishing with 18 points, four boards and four assists, and Jaylen Adams 12 points, six assists and four rebounds.

Sam McDaniel did start the game strongly before his ankle injury and had five points in his 3:41 with Tohi Smith-Milner adding three points and six rebounds with Taine Murray having six boards and two steals, and Alex Ducas four rebounds.

Jack McVeigh almost had a triple-double for Cairns with 19 points, nine rebounds and nine assists with Admiral Schofield adding 19 points and six boards, Marcus Lee 12 points and three rebounds, and newly arrived import point guard Andrew Andrews eight points and four assists.

Casey Prather opened up the game's scoring and then Sam McDaniel hit five quick points to give his team the 9-5 lead but then he rolled his ankle and had to leave the game in another cruel injury blow to start the season.

From there, the Taipans did close the opening quarter with a 13-5 run to be leading 21-17.

The Cairns advantage got out to as much as 10 points throughout the third quarter but Brisbane closed out the half strongly including a run of six straight points with a couple of strong finishes to Tyrell Harrison.

Jaylen Adams then made two at the stripe just before the break for him to have 10 points and four assists by the half with the Taipans clinging to the narrow 45-41 advantage.

The Bullets then came out strongly to open the second half with an 8-2 run and the Taipans being forced into an early time out.

Harrison and Prather scored again to put Brisbane four points up but Cairns did respond and finished the third period with the last eight points to be on top 61-56 by three quarter-time.

The Snakes then pushed that lead back out to double-digits early in the fourth quarter and were leading by as much as 12 with just over six minutes to play.

However, the Bullets dug deep to turn things around starting with a three-point play from Harrison and strong finish from Freeman-Liberty.

Freeman-Liberty, Prather and Harrison then combined for Brisbane to score 12 of the game's next 14 points and suddenly they were back in front when Prather scored with 1:49 left on the clock.

Jack McVeigh answered with a huge three for Cairns and in the end that was the difference as the Bullets fell one-point short despite a couple of good looks in the dying seconds from Freeman-Liberty.

The Bullets will have the quick turnaround to play again on Sunday afternoon against the Adelaide 36ers in the third straight road game to open NBL26.

Not only that but it will be a third straight opponent who are playing their first game of the new season in front of their home fans when the Bullets take on Bryce Cotton and his new Sixers outfit.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26

BRISBANE BULLETS 82 (Harrison 22, Freeman-Liberty 21, Prather 18)

CAIRNS TAIPANS 83 (McVeigh 19, Schofield 19, Lee 12)

BOX SCORE