Recap | Bullets can't capitalise on hot start

The Brisbane Bullets made a blistering start in attempt to stay undefeated this NBL season and while it didn’t quite eventuate against the defending champions, there was plenty to be encouraged by ahead of a home return.

The Bullets opened NBL27 with home victories against the New Zealand Breakers and Illawarra Hawks, setting up a battle between the last two undefeated teams on Wednesday night against the Sydney Kings.

The Afterpay Arena match up was also the start of the Ignite Cup by 7-Eleven and the Bullets took the first point with a 34-23 first quarter, but things got more challenging from there.

Sydney outscored Brisbane 70-44 over the rest of the game to win by 15, and the Bullets now return home to host the Tasmania JackJumpers on Saturday.

The Bullets got off to a scorching start, scoring 34 points in the first quarter, including 5/10 from the outside and shooting 58 per cent from the field.

But it was tough going the rest of the way particularly with the way Matthew Dellavedova and Torrey Craig locked in defensively on Arnas Velička, and denied his ability to play in the pick-and-roll with Bullets centre Tyrell Harrison.

As a result, Brisbane managed just the 44 points over the last three quarters with shooting 8/37 from downtown and 30 per cent overall.

There were still plenty of positives for the Bullets, including Jaylin Williams top-scoring with 19 points, eight rebounds, and two assists on 4/11 shooting from deep.

Velička still produced 15 points and five assists with 4/10 shooting from deep with Nate Hinton contributing 13 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals, and Harrison six points, five boards and three blocks.

Jacob Holt added four points and two rebounds, Mitch Norton four points and three boards, Lat Mayen three points and six rebounds, Harry Rouhliadeff three points and four boards, and Josh Duach two points and a rebound for his first points with the Bullets.

Coming off two impressive home wins to start the season, the Bullets came out strong on the road against the Kings and, by quarter-time, led 34-23.

That was on the back of shooting 11/19 from the field, 5/10 from the outside and 7/10 at the free-throw line while collecting four offensive rebounds and with Nate Hinton and Jaylin Williams combining for 17 of those points.

Things dried up for the Bullets in the second quarter with just the 10 points on 4/18 shooting with five turnovers, but they had still done enough to head into the half-time break leading the defending champions 44-43.

Sydney extended that lead in the third quarter with another 29 points to 14 to be on top 72-58 by three quarter-time, and the Bullets couldn’t quite make too many inroads in the fourth to end up going down to the Kings by 15 points for a first defeat of NBL27.

The Bullets are back home on Saturday evening to host the Tasmania JackJumpers at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, looking to go three-for-three in front of the home fans for NBL27.

GAME DETAILS

BRISBANE BULLETS 78
SYDNEY KINGS 93

Afterpay Arena, Wednesday September 30

Jaylin Williams – 19 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists
Arnas Velička – 15 points, 5 assists
Nate Hinton – 13 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
Max Mackinnon – 9 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists
Tyrell Harrison – 6 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists