Bullets fall short in the Stoush

The Brisbane Bullets were unable to make it four in a row, defeated by the Cairns Taipans 90-82 on Saturday night.

Nissan Arena played host to the first Sunshine Stoush of NBL23 with the Bullets and Taipans both playing their first game since the FIBA break, and both Queensland rivals brought winning form with them.

It was a tight battle for much of the evening and the Bullets were up five mid-way through the third quarter on the back of a couple of triples from Tanner Krebs.

However, the Snakes lead heading into three quarter-time by scoring 14 straight points prior to the break.

For the Bullets, DJ Mitchell shot 5/8 from the field, 3/5 from deep and 8/8 from the foul line for the Bullets to top-score with 21 points and eight rebounds.

Tyler Johnson contributed in all aspects of the game, adding 17 points, nine boards and four assists. Jason Cadee added 11 points and three assists, Tanner Krebs nine points and Aron Baynes eight points and 11 rebounds.

Brisbane got out to a quick start with Aron Baynes hitting from deep, but on the other end, DJ Hogg hit three quick buckets with the Taipans taking advantage of the Bullets turnovers.

Jason Cadee hit a three to steady things and later in the first term Baynes landed another from downtown, but the Taipans were able to take the lead through baskets from Sam Waardenburg and Keanu Pinder.

Pinder hit their only three-point basket in 10 attempts for the quarter which turned into an 18-11 lead, but the Bullets finished with a 5-2 run to be only down four despite eight turnovers in the opening quarter.

The Bullets caught fire to open the second period, with a triple from DJ Mitchell and then six points from Cadee starting with a three-point make and then a three-point play after taking it to the rack.

That suddenly had Brisbane in front 25-20 but Cairns answered with the next seven points starting with a three from Bul Kuol. The Taipans were able to take a 40-36 half-time edge.

Five quick points from Nathan Sobey gave the Bullets a strong start to the second half, but the Taipans responded with the next six points.\

Then just after Brisbane went up five following consecutive triples from Tanner Krebs, Cairns made a strong run, hitting the next 14 points leading into three quarter-time.

Brisbane started the fourth term well starting with a Tyler Johnson three ball. Buckets to Mitchell and Sobey then made it a three-point game, but the Taipans continued to fire.

An offensive rebound and putback on a free-throw to Tahjere McCall helped the Snakes back out to a nine-point edge before Brisbane fired back with back-to-back threes from Mitchell.

That made it a one-point game with just under four minutes on the clock. Despite a fight from the Bullets, the Snakes had the answers and went on to win by eight.

Next up, the Bullets face the New Zealand Breakers at Spark Arena in Auckland on Sunday 27 November. The Bullets next home game is on Thursday 1 December against the Perth Wildcats.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 7

BRISBANE BULLETS 82 (Mitchell 21, Johnson 17, Cadee 11)

CAIRNS TAIPANS 90 (Pinder 25, Hogg 20, Waardenburg 14) 

BOX SCORE