Preview | R6 Away v JackJumpers

The Brisbane Bullets take on the Tasmania JackJumpers already for a second time in NBL27 and play their second Ignite Cup match up of the season when they are back on the road this Wednesday night.

The Bullets returned to the NBL winner's list last Thursday night at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre with the 115-105 victory against the South East Melbourne Phoenix.

That improved them to a 3-3 record following the opening six matches now ahead of an Ignite Cup match up this Wednesday night against the JackJumpers at Hobart's MyState Bank Arena.

It's the second time the two teams have already met this season with the first encounter taking place at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre back on October 3 which saw the JackJumpers end up winning 109-99 in overtime.

But that had been a game that the Bullets had led by as much as 14 points at one point with assistant coach Hanno Möttölä looking forward to the chance to quickly return the favour on the JackJumpers.

"It was a great lesson for us about physicality the first time we played them," Möttölä said.

"We were up in the double digits and then they came back to take control of the game, and somehow we fought back to get into the overtime, and then they dominated that.

"At the end of the day, they deserved that win and obviously like every team in this league at this point, we're down a couple of guys, but it gives chance for other guys to step up.

"We've had a good couple of days of practice before going down to Tasmania and really try to fight, and see if we can return the favour to what they did on our home court."

The Bullets are still without Lithuanian point guard Arnas Velička but his replacement Raul Neto has been cleared to make his debut on Wednesday night bringing with him 454 games of NBA experience as well as having represented Brazil at the 2012, 2016 and 2024 Olympic Games.

There's mixed news on the injury front too with Jacob Holt ruled out for the Bullets while fellow centre Tyrell Harrison remains a game time decision but Taine Murray will make his first appearance of the season.

The JackJumpers will remain without some key players too including Majok Deng, Ben Ayre and Bryce Hamilton, but they come into the match up sitting on top of the NBL with a 5-2 record.

It might be Mottola's first season in the NBL, but what he has already quickly learned is how even of a competition it is meaning that going into any game, any team is capable of winning.

"Obviously it's a very competitive league and I believe this season it's even more balanced than it's been the last couple of years," Möttölä said.

"Obviously this is my first season coaching, but I've followed the league the last couple of years and my friend Petteri Koponen coached the Breakers so I watched their game as much as I could, and so far this season looks like a very even league.

"We felt that we maybe let a couple of wins go by and we had a chance to get one or two of those, but now to get that win last week on home court was really good for us to get back to .500."

GAME INFO

Who: Brisbane Bullets vs Tasmania JackJumpers

Tip off: 7:30pm (AEST), Wednesday 21 October, 2026

Where: MyState Bank Arena, Hobart

Watch: ESPN via Foxtel, Kayo and Disney+