Preview: NBL25 R18 Home v Melbourne United

The Brisbane Bullets are back at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre for the last time this NBL25 regular season looking to celebrate Australia Day with a win over Melbourne United to keep their top six dream alive.

Last time the Bullets played United they snapped a 12-game losing run against them and also on Friday night in Christchurch ended a four-match losing streak this NBL season so for plenty of reasons they come into Sunday's match up feeling good.

Not only that, but the Bullets just need to keep winning to remain in the hunt for a top six position as the end of the NBL regular season draws near.

The Bullets regained Casey Prather and Deng Adel to the line-up on Friday night in New Zealand along with adding Callum Dalton as the replacement for Tyrell Harrison, and the result was a performance full of heart.

Brisbane had to shake off the Breakers making a 12-2 start, but scored 10 points in two minutes and then led the game the rest of the way for the eventual 93-87 victory.

That win improves the Bullets to an 11-15 record on the season with three matches to go starting on Sunday at home to Melbourne.

Brisbane is just behind the sixth and seventh placed Adelaide 36ers and Tasmania JackJumpers who both hold 12-13 records but if the Bullets keep on winning then they will be a good shot at ending up in the top particularly with next Friday's game in Adelaide against the Sixers.

The Bullets play host to a United team on Sunday who come into the match up in second position with a 16-10 record having beaten the Wildcats in Perth on Wednesday night.

Melbourne will be playing their last of seven straight matches on the road on Sunday afternoon with the Bullets looking to score consecutive wins against them for the first time since the back end of NBL20.

The win in New Zealand on Friday night was one full of heart for the Bullets in the continued absence of Harrison, Rocco Zikarsky and Emmett Naar, but they dug deep for an impressive showing to make it three straight wins against the Breakers.

They now look to make it back-to-back wins over Melbourne and coach Justin Schueller liked the swagger he saw his team regain in Friday's win.

"We just got this series win against New Zealand and we've got an opportunity to get the series win against Melbourne, and that's front of mind for us," Schueller said.

"I also felt we got our swagger and vibe back just by having bodies around so that's what is exciting to me is that the vibe's there with the group, and the understanding of what we need to go and get done.

"There's also depth there now for us so I'm really looking forward to getting home in front of our home fans and we want to make sure we put on a deserving show to get that opportunity to keep our season alive."

Keandre Cook played a starring role for the Bullets in the win on Friday with 26 points and six assists with five three-pointers. He formed a lethal combination with Prather who also made five triples for 24 points, eight rebounds and four assists.

Cook just enjoyed how strong the mentality is in this Bullets group to overcome any adversity and he's looking forward to the chance to keep their season alive on Sunday in front of the home fans.

"It's just about weathering the storm and having the mentality of staying together knowing that it's not dead yet, and the season's not over," Cook said.

"We have been going through some tough things, but we still have a great team with great guys coming off the bench being an all-star in their role.

"It's always to get a win when you're going into the next game and trying to impact that to give you confidence to win that too.

"Right now it's just about recovery, the guys resting up and just getting back to the drawing board, the coach will draw up a game plan and we'll emphasise the things we want to attack them with, and just stick together and have the same mentality that we had this game."

GAME INFO

Who: Brisbane Bullets vs Melbourne United

Tip off: 1:30pm (AEST), Sunday 26 January, 2025

Where: Brisbane Entertainment Centre

Tickets: Available Here

Watch: Channel 10, 10 Play, ESPN via Foxtel and Kayo