Recap | Raul impresses as Bullets battle

The Brisbane Bullets were missing a host of key players but ultimately it was just a tough shooting night that was their downfall with Raul Neto impressing first up and Taine Murray encouraging on return despite the Tasmania JackJumpers winning 106-85.

The Bullets arrived at MyState Bank Arena in Hobart having won last up six days ago at home to the South East Melbourne Phoenix, but had lost key centre pairing Tyrell Harrison and Jacob Holt to ankle injuries.

They joined Arnas Velička and Sam McDaniel on the sidelines, but there was some relief for the Bullets with the arrival of three-time Olympian and 464-game NBA veteran Neto along with Murray available for the first time in NBL27.

The major difference in the game was just the shooting between the two teams and fighting effort and spirit shown against the odds couldn’t be questioned from the Bullets.

But Tasmania finished up shooting 59 per cent from the field to 42 from the Bullets along with 11/22 to 8/29 from the outside, and 19/27 to 9/12 at the foul line.

It was a big task for the Bullets front court but Harry Rouhliadeff made his first career start and battled manfully for four points, four rebounds and a block in his 22 minutes.

Former JackJumper Archie Woodhill also was out there for 17:34 and had five points, four rebounds and a steal while Lat Mayen contributed nine points and three rebounds.

Max Mackinnon once again top scored for the Bullets with 21 points with four rebounds on 4/8 three-point shooting with Nate Hinton contributing 13 points and five assists, Jaylin Williams 10 points, three rebounds and three assists, and Mawot Mag six points.

Then there was debutant Raul Neto who despite only just landing in Brisbane on Monday and travelling to Hobart on Tuesday, he showed all of his 464 games of NBA experience and why he's a three-time Olympian.

He was out there for 13:46 and looked good with nine points and six assists on 4/4 shooting while making his lone three-point attempt. The team was also +5 in his minutes.

Taine Murray was another positive to come from the game in his first appearance after injury for the season. He had eight points, two rebounds and an assist.

The Bullets were right up against it with Tyrell Harrison and Jacob Holt ruled out, and then it was a rough start early with a 12-2 beginning from the home team.

But Brisbane did well to work back into the contest from there even though the JackJumpers were still leading 22-15 by quarter-time.

Brisbane might have missed all five three-point attempts but had battled hard with Max Mackinnon up to seven points and a nice little cameo from Raul Neto with two points, two rebounds and an assist.

It was a high-scoring second quarter from both teams with the Bullets doing well to stay in the contest but the JackJumpers had pushed out their lead to 56-44.

The Bullets added 29 points for the quarter on 11/21 shooting while hitting their first three triples of the game with Mackinnon up to 11 points, Jaylin Williams 10 and Neto contributing four with three assists in his first six NBL minutes.

Tasmania made a fast start to the second half with a 7-2 run before the Bullets got a steadying triple from Mackinnon only for him to be subbed out straight after because of what was happening up the other end.

Then again after Brisbane were picking up some momentum to get back within 11 including a three-pointer from Neto, Tasmania took control to be up 84-64 by three quarter-time.

The Bullets had a chance to snatch the fourth quarter and an Ignite Cup point after a late three from Lat Mayen but the JackJumpers just held on for that too 22-21 in the eventual 21-point win.

The Bullets back up on the road on Saturday against the Illawarra Hawks before a return home next Thursday night in another Sunshine Stoush clash with the Cairns Taipans.

GAME DETAILS

BRISBANE BULLETS 85
TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 106

MyState Bank Arena (Hobart), Wednesday October 21

Max Mackinnon – 21 points, 4 rebounds, 4/8 3PT
Nate Hinton – 13 points, 5 assists, 3 steals
Jaylin Williams – 10 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists
Raul Neto – 9 points, 6 assists, 4/4 FG
Lat Mayen – 9 points, 3 rebounds