Bullets win at home in ideal Christmas gift

The Brisbane Bullets exploded for 56 first-half on the way to the 99-85 win at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre over the New Zealand Breakers as an ideal Christmas gift with 1900 flying teddy bears thrown in for good measure.

The Bullets might have arrived back home on a seven-game losing slide, but they didn’t play like it in Darryl McDonald's second game as interim coach with the offence clicking with a focus on going through Tyrell Harrison.

Brisbane celebrated their last game before Christmas with the 14-point victory and at half-time, more than 1900 teddy bears were thrown onto the court and collected up to be donated to the Salvation Army in the annual Teddy Toss.

Since putting up 113 points in the October 30 win over the Cairns Taipans, scoring has become mighty tough for the Bullets with them averaging just 78.3 points in the nine matches since of which they won only once.

That included games of scoring 65 and 62 points against Adelaide and Perth, but it was a totally different story on Monday with a clear focus to use Harrison on the inside and to simply things on offence to ensure the better execution.

It sure did work with the Bullets putting up 56 points in the first half on shooting 64 per cent and then finishing with 99 for the game for the 14-point win shooting 52 per cent overall, going 11/27 from downtown and pulling down 15 offensive rebounds and having 23 assists.

That all led to a standout performance going into Christmas with Harrison dominant against his Tall Blacks teammate Sam Mennenga to end up with 24 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks and two assists on 11/14 shooting.

Alex Ducas also knocked down four three-pointers, with two each in the first and fourth quarters, on his way to a season-best 18 points with five assists while Terry Taylor set the tone with 14 points all in the first half while finishing with six rebounds and three blocks.

Javon Freeman-Liberty celebrated his first home win with 13 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and two steals with Jacob Holt adding nine points and two rebounds, Tristan Devers eight points and two assists, Mitch Norton seven points, three boards and two assists, and Tohi Smith-Milner six points.

Parker Jackson-Cartwright top-scored for the Breakers with 26 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals with 4/6 three-point shooting with Izaiah Brockington adding 18 points and Carlin Davison 15.

Captain Mitch Norton gave Brisbane the perfect start trying to set the tone in his 380th NBL appearance before Terry Taylor knocked down a three ball, and then Tyrell Harrison solidified himself down low for a couple of buckets.

Taylor then knocked down another three ball on his way to 10 points in the opening period and with the Bullets shooting 56 per cent from the field, they went into quarter-time leading 26-20.

The Bullets then blew the game wide open early in the second quarter by going on a 14-3 scoring that included triples to Alex Ducas and Tristan Devers, a couple of finishes at the rim to Harrison and then another three ball from Ducas.

That had Brisbane out to a 12-point lead and it was soon 19 when they scored another nine consecutive points with Ducas hitting a third bomb from outside for the quarter.

The Bullets then went into half-time on top 56-41 with the stunning 64 per cent field goal shooting with Harrison and Taylor combining for 28 points on 12/15 shooting.

Every time the Breakers tried to mount a fightback the Bullets continued to have the answers in the third quarter and when Jacob Holt hit a three-point dagger on the three quarter-time buzzer, the lead was back out to 16 points.

The Breakers did score the first four points of the fourth quarter but again Brisbane responded and were back out to a 17-point lead with Ducas hitting a third three-pointer of the game.

He then knocked down a fourth soon after to keep the lead at 15, and Brisbane kept on answering and it was when Freeman-Liberty scored five straight points that the Bullets saw off the Breakers for good to win by 14.

The Bullets now get to remain at home to celebrate Christmas and then get ready to host Melbourne United on Saturday night back at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26

BRISBANE BULLETS 99 (Harrison 24, Ducas 18, Taylor 14)

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 85 (Jackson-Cartwright 26, Brockington 18, Davison 15)

BOX SCORE