Kings Take Advantage of Undermanned Bullets

The Sydney Kings rebounded from their tough loss in Perth but they were made to work for it in their 90-71 win against a decimated Brisbane Bullets at Qudos Bank Arena.

The scoreline flatters the Kings who were pushed for three quarters by the gutsy Bullets who ultimately just ran out of legs to remain competitive.

Brisbane was lucky to cobble a team together for this contest. Already missing new signing Lamar Patterson with his on-going knee injury, the Bullets were rocked with the news that fellow import Vic Law's calf injury is worse than first thought.

If that wasn't bad enough Tanner Krebs and Anthony Drmic were also ruled out which left the Bullets down four players that have started at different times this season.

Bullets rookie Blake Jones had tasted just 77 seconds of NBL action before but Brisbane's brutal injury toll saw him thrust into the starting line-up. 

It also meant Sunshine Coast Phoenix guard Jamaal Robateau and development player Callum Dalton made the trip to make up the numbers on the bench.

Tyrell Harrison (eight points, 19 rebounds) was tough in the paint but the worrying form of Matt Hodgson (four points on 2/10 shooting and four rebounds) made the job that bit tougher. 

Jason Cadee (11 points, four assists, three steals) was the only other player to reach double figures aside from the standout effort from Sobey who delivered 31 points and nine rebounds.

By the time the fourth quarter rolled around the Bullets were out of luck and out of gas. 

Bullets coach Andrej Lemanis said the Drmic had failed a fitness test on a back injury and confirmed Law's calf is worse than first feared. Because of the snap lockdown in Brisbane, the move to Sydney and Easter closures of specialists, he said they don't have a timeframe on their return.

"We have been playing teams that are fully loaded, the last two games they have had two imports, and we haven't had either of ours available," he said.

"It is an issue at the moment, but at the end of the day you have to find a way to be competitive, the season doesn't stop ... there is no asterisk on the table that says by the way the games we lost, we didn't have our full roster.

"We've got to find a way to deal with the circumstances in front of us."

There were positives and Lemanis paid credit to Jones (eight points) and Tamuri Wigness who hit his first NBL triple and was tenacious in defence.

SYDNEY KINGS 90 (Moller 20, Martin 16, Vasiljevic 13)

BRISBANE BULLETS 71 (Sobey 31, Cadee 11, Jones 8, Harrison 8) 

BOX SCORE