Full of heart Bullets win in Tasmania

Casey Prather and Tyrell Harrison combined for 49 points and 17 rebounds but it was the tenacity of all the Brisbane Bullets led by the returning Mitch Norton that saw them beat the Tasmania JackJumpers 83-81.

The Bullets were playing their first game since losing at home to the Sydney Kings last Saturday and were on a mission all evening at Hobart's MyState Bank Arena.

They ended up opening up a 14-point lead in the third quarter and even though the JackJumpers briefly regained the lead in the final term, Brisbane dug deep for the two-point win to improve to a 5-7 record with four of those wins now coming away from home.

Casey Prather was brilliant once again but it wasn’t just the numbers he produced, he came up with some massive defensive plays as well on his way to 28 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals on shooting 11/22 from the field.

Tyrell Harrison had the better of his New Zealand-Australian centre match up with Will Magnay to put up 21 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks on 10/14 field goal shooting.

Mitch Norton also made a successful return from his knee injury with the Bullets captain taking a trademark charge, diving for loose balls and the team was +6 with him out there with him having four points, five assists and three rebounds.

Jacob Holt also made his NBL debut and showed encouraging signs in his 11 minutes with two points and four rebounds.

Taine Murray also had eight points on 2/3 shooting, Alex Ducas eight points and seven rebounds, Dakota Mathias seven points, Jaylen Adams three points, seven assists and four rebounds, and Tristan Devers two points and a rebound.

Former Bullet Josh Bannan had 18 points and 11 rebounds for Tasmania with Nick Marshall adding 18 points and nine boards, Bryce Hamilton 16 points despite 5/15 shooting, and Ben Ayre 14 points on 4/6 three-point shooting.

The JackJumpers were back home after playing their past two matches in Launceston and started strongly racing out to a 9-2 advantage including a triple from Tyger Campbell.

Mitch Norton then helped steady the Bullets in his return with a couple of free throws before both teams traded 6-0 runs, and then the JackJumpers opened up a nine-point lead after a triple from Majok Deng and three-point play from Josh Bannan against his former team.

Brisbane answered with the last five points including the first NBL score from Jacob Holt with Tasmania clinging to the 23-19 edge after one.

Ben Ayre then fired the JackJumpers with eight quick points to open the second frame and the lead was back out to nine for the home team, but Brisbane willed themselves to take over from there.

The Bullets scored the next 11 points including a three-pointer from Alex Ducas with the other eight all coming from an unstoppable Casey Prather.

Ducas and Dakota Mathias then also hit from behind the arc before half-time to give Brisbane the 46-43 advantage.

The Bullets continued to gradually build on their lead throughout the third quarter and it got out to as much as 14 points when Prather landed a three ball.

Tasmania did stay in touch with the last five points of the third period with the Bullets still leading 69-60 with one to play.

Brisbane did remain in control still leading by nine until Nick Marshall made a three-pointer for Tasmania with 6:30 to play which set up a fascinating finish to the contest.

Hamilton landed a three soon after too for the JackJumpers to make it a two-point ball game, and when he made a second with three minutes to go, it was suddenly a one-point margin.

Marshall then put the JackJumpers back in front with just under three to play with Prather responding up the other end to restore the lead for the Bullets only for Campbell to bring things back square with 2:30 to go.

It was a tense finish from there and the only score in the last 2:30 came on a strong drive from Prather to put Bullets back up two which is where they stayed with the JackJumpers unable to get up a good look on the final possession.

The Bullets are now back to South East Queensland on Wednesday night to take on the New Zealand Breakers in an Ignite Cup by Disney+ match up on the Gold Coast.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26

BRISBANE BULLETS 83 (Prather 28, Harrison 21, Murray 8, Ducas 8)

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 81 (Bannan 18, Marshall 18, Hamilton 16)

BOX SCORE