Bullets overrun at home by Hawks

The Brisbane Bullets weren’t quite able to close the deal on the league-leading Illawarra Hawks at home on Friday night but will quickly turn their attention to the Tasmania JackJumpers on Sunday.

The Bullets were back to the Brisbane Entertainment Centre having won five of their previous six matches to be in some tremendous form while averaging over 111 points a game in those victories.

That included a win in Adelaide on Christmas Eve and then the Bullets took the challenge right up to the top-of-the-table Hawks to be leading by 10 points during the second quarter, and still by six midway through the third.

However, Illawarra took charge from there for the eventual 102-84 victory with the Bullets now sitting on a 9-9 record on the season ahead of facing the JackJumpers in Hobart on Sunday afternoon.

Of concern in the loss for the Bullets was having just nine assists as a team while also having 22 turnovers from which the Hawks were able to score 32 points from.

Casey Prather continued his brilliant form for Brisbane despite the loss with another 28 points, three rebounds and two blocks on the back of shooting 11/18 from the field and 4/5 from three-point territory.

Josh Bannan also showed he's working his way back to top form following his ankle injury by playing 26 minutes and delivering 17 points and six rebounds with Isaac White starting in the second game of his career for 10 points and two boards.

Captain Mitch Norton also finished with nine points and four rebounds, Tyrell Harrison nine points and nine boards, Keandre Cook seven points and three rebounds, Emmett Naar two points and two assists, and Tristan Devers two points and an assist.

Trey Kell III top-scored for Illawarra with 18 points while Tyler Harvey added 17, Sam Froling 15, Davo Hickey 12 and Lachlan Olbrich 11.

The Hawks scored the first eight points of the game but once the Bullets got on the board thanks to Tyrell Harrison, they worked into the contest nicely including a three ball from Keandre Cook.

Brisbane then managed to score 11 straight points with Casey Prather starting it off with an and-one before Mitch Norton hit a three-pointer and Harrison produced a three-point play.

The Bullets also went on another 7-0 run before quarter-time and by the end of the first period they had put 34 points on the board at 57 per cent shooting to be leading by five.

Brisbane opened up the second quarter strongly too and when Prather and Isaac White scored the margin was out to 10 points.

The margin was still eight just before half-time but the Hawks did score the last five points to cut the Brisbane lead at the break to 50-48 with Prather having 17 points to his name and the team shooting at 52 per cent.

The Bullets made a good start again to the second half too with White scoring another quick four points and then Prather scoring five to ensure the home team was still leading 61-55 halfway through the third quarter.

However, things took a turn from there towards the Hawks and the league-leaders scored the game's next 14 points and ended up turning that six-point deficit into a 14-point lead by three quarter-time.

Brisbane did manage six straight points during the fourth frame to get back within nine points, but the Hawks ended up with the last nine points of the contest to score the 18-point win.

The hectic schedule for the Bullets continues with the quick turnaround to taking on a Tasmania JackJumpers on a seven-game winning streak in Hobart on Sunday afternoon.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2024/25

BRISBANE BULLETS 84 (Prather 28, Bannan 17, White 10)

ILLAWARRA HAWKS 102 (Kell III 18, Harvey 17, Froling 15)

BOX SCORE