Bullets compete hard but tough shooting night

The Brisbane Bullets still competed hard to win the possession game but a tough week caught up on their shooting in the end as the Cairns Taipans knocked down 16 three-pointers in the 111-80 victory.

The Bullets were playing a third game in the space of six days having played against the South East Melbourne Phoenix in Melbourne on Saturday and then returning to the Brisbane Entertainment Centre against the Perth Wildcats on Wednesday.

It was just 48 hours later they were back home to host the Snakes in the third Sunshine Stoush meeting of the season, but the Bullets were still missing Tyrell Harrison, Deng Adel and Rocco Zikarsky.

Cairns has been playing strong basketball so far in 2025 and came to Brisbane putting on a strong offensive performance and leaving with the 31-point victory.

Despite the loss and scoreline, the Bullets did battle hard including pulling down 20 offensive rebounds for the game but that only converted into 12 second chance points.

The Bullets did win the possession game and ended up taking four extra field goals than the Taipans with those offensive rebounds but Brisbane went just 36 per cent from the field while the Snakes shot at 59.

Casey Prather finished with another 22 points, 10 rebounds and two steals with Josh Bannan contributing 16 points and 12 boards, and Keandre Cook 13 points and six rebounds with that trio all playing 30-plus minutes.

Josh Adams finished with 10 points, three assists and two rebounds on 5/8 field goal shooting while Mitch Norton had six points and three assists, Isaac White five points and three rebounds, Tohi Smith-Milner three points and three boards, Tristan Devers three points and a steal, and Josh Kunen two points, three rebounds and two assists.

The Taipans made 16/29 from three-point range with Rob Edwards delivering 35 points and three assists, Taran Armstrong 19 points, six rebounds and four assists, Tanner Groves 17 points and eight boards, and Kyle Adnam 14 points and six assists.

It was a tough start for the Bullets with the Taipans leading 14-5 after the first four minutes, but the home team then worked back into the contest starting with a three-pointer from Tohi Smith-Milner and layup to Mitch Norton.

Casey Prather also scored nine quick points but still by the end of the first quarter it was the Snakes with the 31-24 advantage.

Brisbane did score six straight points early in the second frame including back-to-back scores to Josh Adams, but Cairns answered with a 9-1 run.

The lead for the Taipans did get out to 17 by half-time with Cairns leading 62-45 at the break even with the Bullets getting threes just before the end of the quarter thanks to Isaac White and Prather.

Brisbane started the second half well with early three-pointers from Josh Bannan and Keandre Cook before Norton brought it back to a 12-point game.

Cairns then received a tech foul and the Bullets hit three straight free throws on the back of that to make it an 11-point game, and they did have some momentum but couldn’t quite capitalise.

The Taipans still managed to be leading by 17 at three quarter-time and the visitors went on a 13-4 run to start the fourth quarter, and then ended up winning by 31 even with some bright moments for the Bullets including a late three ball from Tristan Devers.

Having already played in Melbourne on Saturday and then with home games on Wednesday and Friday, the hectic schedule for the Bullets continues against the Illawarra Hawks in Wollongong on Monday night.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2024/25

BRISBANE BULLETS 80 (Prather 22, Bannan 16, Cook 13)

CAIRNS TAIPANS 111 (Edwards 35, Armstrong 19, Groves 17)

BOX SCORE