Recap | Third quarter costly for Bullets

Still missing a host of players, the Brisbane Bullets ended up more dinged up on Sunday against the Tasmania JackJumpers but for three of the four quarters they did plenty right before the third frame proved costly.

Coming off a tough overtime loss in Auckland to the New Zealand Breakers on Friday night, the Bullets returned to the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Sunday looking to beat the JackJumpers on a third attempt for NBL27.

They started well in that quest to lead by as much as seven points in the first quarter and still be up 52-50 by half-time, but then just 14 points on 6/14 shooting and allowing 29 for the JackJumpers ended up being significant in the eventual 104-92 win for Tasmania.

With the Bullets already without Jacob Holt, Max Mackinnon, Arnas Velička and Sam McDaniel coming into the game, Raul Neto didn't return after the four-minute mark of the third quarter while Mitch Norton's game ended with seven minutes to go and Lat Mayen's with 4:30 to play.

Neto again sat out the majority of the second half through precaution while Norton suffered a gash to the face that has since required stitches, and Mayen had to leave through concussion protocols after also taking a hit.

That didn’t help the cause of the Bullets and neither did the fact that the JackJumpers to go to free-throw 29 times to their 13, but they did continue to fight the game out.

Nate Hinton was outstanding once again to finish with 27 points, four assists, three steals and three rebounds with 12/21 field goal shooting.

Before going out, Neto had already put together 15 points, two rebounds and two steals while Taine Murray finished with 15 points and three assists with 3/7 three-point shooting, and Tyrell Harrison 14 points and four rebounds.

Archie Woodhill contributed eight points, four rebounds and two assists, Mayen four points and eight rebounds, Jaylin Williams three points and a steal, Harry Rouhliadeff two points, a rebound and a block, Rio Bruton two points and an assist, and Mawot Mag two points and three rebounds.

It was the third meeting of the season already between the two teams with the JackJumpers having won the first two encounters, but the Bullets had the better of the start to be up 26-21 by quarter-time.

That was on the back of shooting 9/18 from the field to 6/17 with Raul Neto already having 10 points while Tyrell Harrison worked with him nicely for six points and three rebounds.

Both teams continued to play enterprising basketball in the second quarter with the Bullets going into half-time narrowly leading 52-50 on the back of another 26 points with Harrison having no impact in the term after a third foul.

Neto was up to 15 points for the home team with Nate Hinton adding 10 points and three assists.

The JackJumpers then took control of the game in the third quarter including going on a 13-0 scoring run where their defence had locked in on the Bullets, and they were executing nicely up the other end.

That saw Tasmania end up producing 29 points to 14 in the term on the back of shooting 10/20 from the field and 6/6 at the foul line and limiting Brisbane to 6/14 and forcing them into another four turnovers while pulling down six offensive rebounds themselves.

The JackJumpers continued to have all the answers through the fourth quarter on the way to the 12-point win.

The Bullets have one more game to go before the FIBA break and that's next Sunday back also at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre against the Sydney Kings.

GAME DETAILS

BRISBANE BULLETS 92
TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 104

Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Sunday November 15

Nate Hinton – 27 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 3 steals
Taine Murray – 15 points, 3 assists
Raul Neto – 15 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals
Tyrell Harrison – 14 points, 4 rebounds
Archie Woodhill – 8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists