Preview | R9 Double v Breakers, JackJumpers

The Brisbane Bullets begin their double in NBL27 Round 9 on the road to the New Zealand Breakers on Friday before backing up on return to the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Sunday to host the Tasmania JackJumpers for RACQ Round.

The Bullets have already shown tremendous improvement so far in NBL27 having won six matches across the first 12 matches after only winning six in total across the 33 games of last season.

So they now come into the double-header this weekend with a 6-6 record and holding sixth position in the standings ahead of playing the Breakers at Auckland's Spark Arena on Friday before hosting the JackJumpers at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Sunday.

The Bullets have already played both teams so far this season and first up is the Breakers who sit currently on a 4-8 record and are on a five-game losing streak, but have won two of their three matches at home so far in NBL27.

The meeting earlier this season was the first game of NBL27 for the Bullets when they hosted the Breakers at Pat Rafter Arena and ended up winning a tight contest, 88-85.

In that game, Arnas Velička put up 23 points and 14 assists with Tyrell Harrison adding 22 points and seven rebounds, Nate Hinton 14 points, eight boards and five assists, and Max Mackinnon nine points and seven rebounds.

Then there is the JackJumpers who the Bullets host on Sunday and it will be a third meeting already of the season between the two teams as part of RACQ Round.

The first clash was at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre back on October 3 and in a game that went to overtime, the JackJumpers did end up prevailing 109-99.

In that game, Harrison finished with 24 points, 12 rebounds and three assists with Hinton scoring 21 points, Mackinnon 21, and Jaylin Williams had 10 points, eight rebounds and four assists.

The most recent meeting was on October 21 down at Hobart's MyState Bank Arena with the JackJumpers winning this time 106-85.

In that contest, the Bullets were without Harrison along with Jacob Holt, Velička and Sam McDaniel with Mackinnon producing 21 points and four rebounds, Hinton 13 points and five assists, Raul Neto nine points and six assists, Williams 10 points, three rebounds and three assists, and Lat Mayen nine points and three boards.

Bullets point guard Raul Neto has instantly fitted in as the injury replacement for Arnas Velička with him so far averaging 9.7 points and 5.3 assists over his first six games in 21.7 minutes and shooting 52 per cent from the field and 40 per cent from the outside.

The Bullets have already matched the win total of all of last season just 12 matches into NBL27, and Neto has no doubt that if they continue on the path that they are, the playoffs should be at the end of the horizon for them.

"I think if we find some consistency on our game, and with our energy and intensity, I think we can go far," Neto said.

"I wouldn’t be surprised to see Brisbane making the playoffs but of course there are great teams in this league, and teams still trying to find their groove and get wins, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that team can grow together, can keep improving and having more consistency.

"We've had some games where we drop on our physicality or on our focus, and if you do that for 10 minutes in a basketball game it can cost you the game so I think that's the main key for this Brisbane team to being really good, and possibly making the playoffs or not.

As for the two games this weekend starting Friday away to the Breakers and at home to the JackJumpers on Sunday, Neto is comfortable with their preparation to get ready for two matches in less than 48 with international travel thrown in that'll be ready to give it their best shot.

"It's going to be a very quick turnaround with a trip in the middle but we've had this week to prepare for the Breakers, but then it's a quick turnaround against Tasmania at home for us," Neto said.

"But I think what is important is being consistent, doing the little things that we don't need to be in a good day for which is playing defence, being physical and I think offence will take care of itself.

"We have a very offensively talented team and if we get stops and play good defence, I think it's going to be the big key for those two games."

The Bullets will look to bring that energy back to Brisbane on Sunday as they take on the JackJumpers for RACQ Round at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

‍GAME INFO

FRIDAY

Who: Brisbane Bullets vs New Zealand Breakers
Tip off: 4:30pm (AEST), Friday 13 November, 2026
Where: Spark Arena (Auckland)
Watch: ESPN via Foxtel, Kayo and Disney+

SUNDAY

Who: Brisbane Bullets vs Tasmania JackJumpers
Tip off: 4:00pm (AEST), Sunday 15 November, 2026
Where: Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Tickets: Available Here
Watch: ESPN via Foxtel, Kayo and Disney+