Preview: NBL25 R10 Away v Perth Wildcats

The Brisbane Bullets went into the FIBA window on a high after a big win at home over the Perth Wildcats and now they will look to repeat the dose on the road on Friday night as NBL25 resumes.

The Bullets delivered their best, and most complete, performance of the NBL season almost two weeks ago at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre with the Sunday afternoon 105-84 victory against the Wildcats.

That victory improved Brisbane to a 4-6 record after the opening 10 matches of the season leading into last week's break for the FIBA international window.

During that time, Mitch Norton, Rocco Zikarsky and Josh Bannan all represented the Australian Boomers as they officially qualified for next year's FIBA Asia Cup in Saudi Arabia while Tyrell Harrison also played for the New Zealand Tall Blacks.

The first game back now for the Bullets will be against the Wildcats once more albeit at RAC Arena in Perth on Friday night with tip off set for 8.30pm Queensland time.

The Bullets will be attempting to keep the momentum going from the 21-point win against the Wildcats two weeks ago and to win at RAC Arena just as they did on October 27 just last year.

While James Batemon's 51-point performance rightfully grabbed all the attention after that win against Perth prior to the break, it was anything but a one-man show at the same time.

Keandre Cook also knocked down four three-pointers for 17 points along with five rebounds and five assists with Zikarsky having a career-best 17 points along with seven boards with Harrison contributing 10 points and seven rebounds, and Bannan seven points and nine boards.

Now as the Bullets head to Perth, they will be attempting to make it back-to-back victories this season and to make it five victories in the past eight matches to continue to build some momentum following the 0-3 start.

Brisbane heads to Perth not quite at full strength, though, with Jarred Bairstow still out with an ankle injury while Tohi Smith-Milner (concussion), Bannan (ankle) and Deng Adel (broken hand) are all sidelined for the match up.

There's more positive news with Casey Prather fit to return after missing that last win over the Wildcats with a hip flexor complaint as he goes back to play in Perth against a team he won two championships with.

The Wildcats won't be at full strength either with point guard Tai Webster to miss with a hamstring injury while there remains doubt after Kristian Doolittle after he hurt a knee in the game in Brisbane almost two weeks ago.

Batemon is coming off the performance of his life in that game in Brisbane where he scored 51 points in a spectacular performance, but his eyes remain on the bigger picture.

Even with a slightly slower start to the season than he expected both for himself and the team, he always had faith that things would begin to click with the Bullets and he sees no reason why their momentum can't continue.

"Honestly the pre-season was kinda tough and we did have a long pre-season with a lot of games, and we were doing a lot of travelling," Batemon said.

"I really wasn’t too used to doing that in the pre-season where it's normally pretty chill and you might play about five games, and you're not doing all the flying you have to do here.

"So the pre-season was kinda tough on the body and the slow start probably had to come just from that tough pre-season, and then you get to the regular season and everybody is giving you their best shot right away.

"The game plans are intensified and mistakes are intensified, so it was just a slow start all round for the team as a whole.

"But I was just trying to keep my mental and stay focused because I knew what I was capable of, and what this team was capable of so I tried not to get frustrated and blocked out any of that outside noise.

"We've just maintained our team goals and it wasn’t too much bigger than that and now hopefully we are settling into the season pretty well."

GAME INFO

Who: Brisbane Bullets vs Perth Wildcats

Tip off: 8:30pm (AEST), Friday 29 November, 2024

Where: RAC Arena, Perth

Watch: ESPN via Foxtel and Kayo