Bullets now focus on refreshing after break

The Brisbane Bullets have made it to the FIBA international break with the chance for a fresh start to NBL26 but not before a tough home loss to the South East Melbourne Phoenix despite some positives including Jacob Holt's showing.

The Bullets were looking for an improved home performance at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Thursday night in their last game before a 15-day break thanks to the FIBA international window.

During that time, it's expected that returning import Javon Freeman-Liberty will return along with the replacement for Casey Prather while Sam McDaniel should be available again following an ankle injury suffered in the second game of the season.

Before that, Brisbane were looking for a strong showing in front of the home fans but the ball pressure applied by South East Melbourne proved difficult to handle from the outset.

The Bullets fell double-figures down in the first quarter with eight turnovers and by the end of the night did finish with 23 turnovers with the Phoenix going on to secure the 103-76 victory thanks to a 29-point to 15 final period.

It came down to the possession game where not only did the Bullets have 23 turnovers, but South East Melbourne collected 14 offensive rebounds and attempted 24 more field goals than the Bullets which ended up pivotal in the final result.

Not helping the Bullets cause was an apparent hamstring injury to Lamar Patterson as they now hold a 5-10 record heading into the FIBA break.

Bullets big man Tyrell Harrison top-scored with 16 points along with eight rebounds, four assists and two blocked shots on 7/10 field goal shooting.

Dakota Mathias also finished with 12 points and three rebounds with captain Mitch Norton contributing 12 points, four assists, three boards and a blocked shot.

Jacob Holt produced his best NBL performance to date with 11 points, nine rebounds and two assists while Alex Ducas contributed 10 points and four boards, Taine Murray seven points and three assists, Jack Purchase three points, Tristan Devers two points and a rebound, and Tohi Smith-Milner two points and three rebounds on return from a finger injury.

Phoenix centre Jordan Hunter ended up hitting four three-pointers for 24 points and nine rebounds with Nathan Sobey adding 13 points and six assists, Wes Iwundu 13 points and four rebounds, Owen Foxwell 11 points, four boards and four assists, and Angus Glover 11 points and four rebounds.

It wasn’t the start the Bullets were hoping for with the Phoenix scoring the game's first five points and then leading 7-2, which turned into a 17-7 advantage when the visitors scored another eight consecutive points.

Tyrell Harrison was keeping the Bullets in touch and then Dakota Mathias knocked down a three ball before Mitch Norton and Jacob Holt combined for seven points all at the foul line to cut the South East Melbourne lead by quarter-time to 27-19.

Consecutive three-pointers in the second quarter from former Brisbane captain Nathan Sobey saw the South East Melbourne lead get out to 16 points but Holt and Tohi Smith-Milner were working hard inside for the Bullets with Harrison sitting with two fouls.

They helped to keep Brisbane in touch but still by half-time it was the Phoenix leading 56-40 making seven three-pointers to two from the Bullets, and forcing the home team into 11 turnovers.

The Bullets then had a terrific start to the second half scoring the first six points through Mathias and Alex Ducas to get it back to a 10-point ball game.

It stayed around that mark for the rest of the third quarter with the Phoenix still leading 74-61 by three quarter-time before again the Bullets started the fourth frame encouragingly with four quick points to be back within 11.

However, the Bullets did run out of gas a little from there with both Norton and Patterson leaving the game, and the Phoenix closed things out with a 19-5 run to secure the 27-point final victory.

The Bullets now have played their last game this season until after next week's FIBA international break with their next assignment in Adelaide against the 36ers on Friday December 5.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26

BRISBANE BULLETS 76 (Harrison 16, Mathias 12, Norton 12)

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 103 (Hunter 24, Iwundu 13, Sobey 13)

BOX SCORE