Bullets fall just short in Adelaide

It was a thrilling finish in Adelaide, but the 36ers were able to hold off the Brisbane Bullets 87-84 to begin Round 13.

It was a hot start from both teams with the Bullets and 36ers finding scoring options aplenty across the floor. Nathan Sobey started where he left off last game and had 10 points in the first quarter, but it was the Bullets who trailed the home side 29-27 after the first quarter.

There was much of the same in the second, with entertaining plays above the rim on consecutive possessions from Aron Baynes, DJ Mitchell and Gorjok Gak.

Tyler Johnson was able to get his feet in the paint at will finding the open man when not knocking down jumpers. But former Bullets, Robert Franks and Anthony Drmic were also able to find the bottom of the net just when it looked the like the Bullets were about to make a push.

Down by 3 at half time, the Bullets came out of the main break with a clear focus on defence. Brisbane went on a 9-0 run to start the third quarter and were able to hold a potent 36ers offence to just eight points in the period. The Bullets took the lead at the beginning of the quarter and led 66-62 going into the final 10 minutes.

Adelaide were able to tie the scores mid-way through the fourth and in a game that ebbed and flowed, the 36ers made their run at the right time. Leading by 7 with under a minute remaining the home side looked like they had the game all but won.

However, the Bullets were not done yet. Two made free throws from Tanner Krebs had the margin at five. From that point the Bullets had to play the clock and Drmic was sent to the free throw line. After a pair of made free throws, Tyler Johnson came down and made an easy lay-up to again draw the margin back to five.

A missed free throw from Adelaide, followed by a knockdown three from White III had the Bullets down by just three.

Krebs then secured the steal on Cleveland's inbounds pass and made both at the line to make it a one-point game. Franks made two free-throws to put Adelaide back up three but Brisbane still had 5.2 seconds out of the timeout.

Brisbane executed well and got a  good look from three, but were unable to capitalise going down by three points.

Sobey was again the game’s leading scorer with 24 and four rebounds. Tanner Krebs has continued his strong return with 13 points and 7 rebounds, while Aron Baynes put together another double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

Tyler Johnson and Andrew White III also contributed 12 points apiece.

For the 36ers Robert Franks led his side with 18 points and six rebounds.

The Bullets' return home for their first game of 2023 on New Year's Day when they host Melbourne United.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 13

ADELAIDE 36ERS 87 (Franks 18, Cleveland 13, Drmic 11)

BRISBANE BULLETS 84 (Sobey 24, Krebs 13, White III 12, Johnson 12) 

BOX SCORE