Prather lifts shorthanded Bullets to crucial win

The Brisbane Bullets were short on bodies but not on fighting spirit with Casey Prather delivering 31 points in a crucial 83-74 home victory on Wednesday night over the New Zealand Breakers.

The Bullets were back at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre attempting to hit back from losing their past three matches but they would have to do it in the absence of Josh Adams, Keandre Cook and Rocco Zikarsky.

Brisbane were able to gradually build a lead throughout the evening and it eventually got into double-figures in the final quarter before the Bullers prevailed by nine points to improve to a 10-11 record and remain right in contention for a top six position.

Prather continued his dazzling recent form with the Bullets by delivering another match-winning performance made up of 31 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and two blocks. While he only shot 1/11 from three-point range, he went 10/14 inside the arc and 8/14 at the foul line.

Tyrell Harrison had a big say in the result with 13 points, nine rebounds and two blocks along with his efforts to quell the influence of Tacko Fall.

Isaac White hit three first half triples on his way to 13 points while Deng Adel contributed 11 points and three assists, Josh Bannan eight points and nine rebounds, Tohi Smith-Milner three points and two boards, Emmett Naar two points and an assist, and Mitch Norton two points, two rebounds and a steal.

It was a strong defensive performance from the Bullets to limit the Breakers to 74 points on 43 per cent shooting and into 12 turnovers from which they scored 14 points from.

Matt Mooney top-scored for New Zealand with 21 points with Mitch McCarron adding nine, Max Darling eight and Karim Lopez eight.

There was a lot of focus on the big men for either team coming into the game Tyrell Harrison and Tacko Fall opened the scoring for both sides before New Zealand led 6-2, 9-4 and 13-7 early on.

The Bullets responded with a pair of three-pointers to Isaac White but the Breakers were still leading 17-15 after one with 12 free throws to five despite only attempting nine field goals to the 19 of Brisbane.

The Bullets regained the lead early in the second quarter with a 6-0 run from Josh Bannan and Casey Prather before Prather continued to take over the contest with and other seven quick points and that helped the home team to the six-point lead.

White kept Brisbane up five just before half-time with his third three ball of the half but it was only a three-point advantage at the break despite the 17 points and six boards for the Bullets from Prather.

Brisbane made a strong start to the second half with an 8-2 run and the lead was out to a game high nine points after a bucket to Bannan.

Tohi Smith-Milner also knocked down a three ball soon after to keep that nine-point edge before the Bullets maintain a 58-50 lead by three quarter-time.

Deng Adel was enjoying his increased role and hit a three early in the fourth period before Brisbane scored five straight points to open up the first double-figure lead in the game.

New Zealand were able to get back to within five with a minute to go after consecutive three balls to Matt Mooney, but the Bullets had the answers.

In the end it was a massive offensive rebound from Smith-Milner on a missed free-throw that secured the win with Prather scoring on the back of that with the Bullets ending up winning by nine.

The busy schedule continues for the Bullets as they take on the South East Melbourne in Gippsland on Saturday and given the Bullets are now 10-11 and the Phoenix 11-10, it's a crucial battle in the top six race.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2024/25

BRISBANE BULLETS 83 (Prather 31, White 13, Harrison 13)

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 74 (Mooney 21, McCarron 9, Lopez 8, Darling 8)

BOX SCORE