Bullets win Sunshine Stoush to return to winner's list

The Brisbane Bullets have held off a fast finishing Cairns Taipans to snap a losing run in Sunshine Stoush match ups and to return to the NBL winner's list with the 84-79 Friday night victory.

The Bullets were back in action at Cairns Convention Centre following the FIBA window last week and arrived in Far North Queensland on a dual mission – to get a win over their Queensland rivals and to stop a run of tough losses from winning positions.

Brisbane was able to complete both missions with the five-point win but it wasn’t without some heart stopping moments when the Taipans did get within three points in the final minute.

However, this time the Bullets were able to hold their nerve and convert the 20-point lead at the start of the fourth quarter into an eventual five-point victory to improve to a 6-7 record on the season.

The victory also snaps a nine-game losing run for Brisbane against Cairns and there was once again plenty to like in the first game of NBL24 with the full Bullets squad available with the return of Shannon Scott from a hamstring injury.

Chris Smith again top-scored for Brisbane with 17 points on the back of knocking down 4/7 from three-point territory with 11 of his points coming in the third period.

Nathan Sobey might have shot just 3/13 but was crucial going 5/5 at the foul line to end up with 14 points and six rebounds with Isaac White contributing 10 points and five boards.

Aron Baynes had a crucial eight points and three boards on another eventful evening against the Snakes which saw he and Bannan both have to receive attention for cuts to their face.

Bannan ended the game with six points, eight rebounds and three assists with Mitch Norton contributing seven points, Shannon Scott eight points and three assists, Rocco Zikarsky six points and three boards, Tyrell Harrison four points and seven rebounds, and Sam McDaniel four points and three assists.

Tahjere McCall top-scored for the Taipans with 29 points with Patrick Miller adding 12 to go with seven assists.

Brisbane's first four points of the game were courtesy of Sam McDaniel before Tyrell Harrison also scored inside, but Cairns then scored seven straight points to lead 13-6.

Brisbane responded to that well starting with a three-pointer from the returning Shannon Scott on his home floor from last season. Chris Smith also added a triple but by quarter-time it was Cairns holding on to the 21-17 advantage.

Then early in the second term and Brisbane took the advantage starting with a second triple of the night from Scott. Rocco Zikarsky then came in and made an immediate impact with two offensive rebounds and putbacks on consecutive possessions.

That led to a Cairns timeout just over two minutes into the quarter and out of that, Zikarsky scored impressively again and then when Nathan Sobey hit back-to-back threes for the Bullets in a shootout with Tahjere McCall, the visitors remained on top.

Things were getting testy heading towards half-time but when Aron Baynes pulled off a steal and dished off the pass for Isaac White to complete the and-one in transition the Bullets' lead was out to seven.

However, Cairns did score the last six points of the half to close Brisbane's lead to 43-42 where the Bullets did shoot 50 per cent from the field, but also had 11 turnovers and just the five free-throw attempts opposed to the 19 at the stripe from the Snakes.

It didn’t take long for the Bullets to stamp their authority during the third quarter and the lead was out to four with a triple from Sobey, and then six on consecutive jumpers from Smith.

Smith then completed a four-point play when fouled hitting another three ball before White scored again to stretch the lead to 10.

It was out to 11 when Smith connected from behind the three-point arc again before Baynes and Bannan pushed it out to 14 by three quarter-time at the foul line.

Brisbane opened the fourth frame on fire with three-point daggers from Smith and Norton with the lead growing to 20 but the Taipans did throw everything at a fightback on their home floor.

While Cairns scored 13 of the next 16 points, it was a critical three from White that kept Brisbane's advantage at double-figures.

Things still got closer than comfort down the stretch with the margin just three with 16.1 seconds to go but the Bullets were able to close out the game for the five-point victory away from homethanks to clutch Sobey free-throws.

The double-header for the Bullets in Round 9 of the NBL continues on Sunday back home at Nissan Arena up against the Illawarra Hawks.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 9

BRISBANE BULLETS 84 (Smith 17, Sobey 14, White 10)

CAIRNS TAIPANS 79 (McCall 29, Miller 12, Waardenburg 11)

BOX SCORE