Bullets fall to Hawks in final home game of NBL22

The Brisbane Bullets were outplayed in their final home game of the NBL22 season, losing 77-108 to the Illawarra Hawks on Saturday evening.

After a season which has so far been plagued by Covid and injury headaches, the Round 19 clash against the Hawks was a way for the Bullets to thank their fans.

Through all the highs and the lows that this season has brought, Brisbane basketball fans have packed the stands time again – and Saturday night was no different.

The visitors got off to an ideal start, but their 5-0 run was brought to an end by Robert Franks. Franks, who has been in a purple patch of form as of late, backed this up with another bucket shortly after a Tom Digbeu steal.

While the Hawks managed to maintain some separation on the scoreboard, the home crowd burst into a frenzy after a regulatory free throw.

Playing in his 100^th NBL game, Lamar Patterson went 1-2 from the charity stripe, but recorded his first points in his milestone match.

Brisbane went into the quarter time break down 32-15, but you couldn’t question the effort of some key players. Franks had 10 of the team’s points, and a board as well.

Leading by example once again, captain Jason Cadee drained the hosts’ first three-pointer of the night early in the second term.

The crowd was once again especially loud when centre Chuanxing Liu registered his first points of the night with just over three minutes to play in the half.

The home side was thriving late in the second quarter, going on a 9-2 run heading into the main break. Overall they won the second quarter, outscoring the Hawks 24-22.

Anthony Drmic helped the Bullets get off to a good start in the third quarter, draining his second three-pointer of the game – and the team’s third.

But some big plays by a big marquee signing undoubtedly stole the show in the third quarter.

Big Liu flexed on the Hawks before converting an and-one opportunity. Shortly after, Liu slammed the ball home for one of the highlights of the game. Brisbane trailed 59-83 at three-quarter time.

Three’s from Digbeu and Drmic were some positive takeaways from the fourth. The Bullets went on another decent run, outscoring the Hawks 8-0 with just over five minutes to play in the final period. But with the game all said and done, most would likely agree that Deng Deng had the play of the night.

He’s had some highlight plays over an impressive stretch of games, but a dunk of his mid-way through the final quarter may just be a dunk of the year contender. With the Hawks running away with the game, there was another reason for Bullets’ fans to smile.

Max Mackinnon, a player on the rise, came off the bench and scored his first point in his NBL career with a free throw. He put up a floater shortly after from mid-range, and while it didn’t go in, we’re sure there’s more points to come from him in a Bullets singlet.

Robert Franks has been in elite form as of late, and was looking to record another double-double tonight. While he didn’t do that, he certainly made his mark. ‘Robo’ had 19-points, as well as five rebounds and two assists. Tom Digbeu also stood out with 14-points.

Every week this season the fans at Nissan Arena have turned up and helped make this place the best stadium in the NBL.

Coach James Duncan was clearly blown away by the support that the team has had this season.

“Unbelievable fan support. Our fans, our members. I almost want to apologise for the performance of our last home game,” Coach James Duncan said after the loss.

“They supported us through Covid, through injuries…I have so much respect for our fan base and what we’re trying to build.”

But the team isn’t done just yet this season. The Bullets have three more away games to play against Adelaide, Melbourne and Cairns.

Box Score

BRISBANE BULLETS 77 (Franks 19-points, Digbeu 14, Drmic 11)

ILLAWARRA HAWKS 108 (Reath 28, Harvey 18, Cleveland 18)