Bullets just fall short against JackJumpers

After a tight three quarters the Brisbane Bullets were beaten by the visiting Tasmania JackJumpers 99-84 on Sunday.

Both teams were energetic to start the game and that continued through the first half. It was a tight battle most of the way with Brisbane looking to make it consecutive wins on the back of beating the Perth Wildcats in overtime on Thursday.

Gorjok Gak and DJ Mitchell came up big for Brisbane, and Nathan Sobey played with great energy. The Bullets gave themselves a chance, but the JackJumpers were able to get the job done.

On the back of the overtime win on Thursday over the Wildcats, the Bullets continued the momentum into the game with a couple of early dunks to Gorjok Gak. A triple from Jason Cadee then put them up 12-6 before Tyler Johnson and Nathan Sobey got going.

Brisbane then went on an 8-0 run including another three from Johnson to see the lead grow to 24-13 but Tasmania kept battling.

The JackJumpers closed the first quarter well with a 10-3 to cut the Brisbane lead to 27-24. The Bullets were doing enough to maintain a narrow advantage through most of the quarter.

DJ Mitchell continued to step up huge too on his way to 11 points with back-to-back three-pointers after a massive putback slam. However, Doyle was on fire for Tasmania and two triples and an and-one play late in the half took him to 18 points and saw the JackJumpers draw level at 54-54 by the major break.

Tasmania opened the second half strongly with a 9-3 run including yet another three from Doyle while Brisbane also got another triple from Mitchell.

A fired up Sobey kept the Bullets in the contest, and he made a three to bring his team back within one, and soon after made a pair of free-throws to bring scores level. It was only two free-throws on the buzzer to Tasmania had the JackJumpers leading 74-72 by three quarter-time.

Rashard Kelly scored his first points of the game to open the fourth quarter and keep Tasmania on top, but Brisbane soon took the lead back thanks to a flush from Mitchell to continue his big afternoon.

The Bullets were still missing Aron Baynes, Tyrell Harrison, Tanner Krebs and Kody Stattmann and Jason Cadee took the court despite being unwell. But players continued to step up and they put together an encouraging performance, only outrun in the dying stages.

Sobey top-scored with 20 points and five assists but it was Mitchell and Gak who produced breakout performances. The former had 16 points and five rebounds while the latter finished with 14 points, nine boards and two statement blocks.

Tyler Johnson also put together another strong performance with 17 points four rebounds, three assists and two steals.

For the JackJumpers Milton Doyle impressed with 33 to go with nine rebounds and three assists.

The Bullets next take on Melbourne United at John Cain Arena on Saturday

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 9

BRISBANE BULLETS 84 (Sobey 20, Johnson 17, Mitchell 16)

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 99 (Doyle 33, McVeigh 16, Magette 13) 

BOX SCORE