NBL Round 17: Melbourne United spoils Bryce Cotton’s 250th game with win in the west
Melbourne United became the first team in months to clamp Bryce Cotton, prevailing in the west in a result which had huge implications for the NBL table.
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A Jack White-led Melbourne United continued its impressive run of form and made a playoff statement with victory over the Perth Wildcats in the west on Wednesday night.
United spoiled Bryce Cotton’s 250th game and notched its 10th win from their past 11 games at RAC Arena.
After leading by 13 points early in the final term, United won 99-93 in a result which had a huge impact on the NBL table.
Melbourne climbed to third place, leapfrogging the Wildcats who fell to fourth.
The Sydney Kings regained second place with their win over South East Melbourne Phoenix earlier in the night.
Shea Ili and Ian Clark combined on defence to restrict Cotton to 14 points after the Wildcats superstar had averaged 33.6 points per game in the previous 11 outings.
Half of that tally came in a tense final term.
ALL WHITE ON THE NIGHT
Perth is the latest team to struggle to contain White.
He picked up his 12th double-double for the season with 26 points and 16 rebounds.
He almost had that mark by half-time with 14 points to his name, at 100 per cent shooting from the field, and eight rebounds.
Matthew Dellavadova’s 16 points and seven assists were also vital, especially down the stretch.
The Wildcats relied too heavily on Kristian Doolittle, with Cotton quiet and Dylan Windler sidelined with injury.
Doolittle continues to impress in his return from injury, with 33 points.
PROTECT THE BALL
United headed to a comfortable quarter-time lead, but then got in its own way.
They led 21-13 with 100 seconds left on the clock but had an error-marred end to the term. United finished with seven turnovers for the quarter and Perth finished with a 10-0 run.
The Wildcats led 23-21at the first break.
United averages 11.6 turnovers a game. And they had been so disciplined in their past two outings, with single figure turnover totals against New Zealand Breakers and Illawarra Hawks.
Perth had two turnovers in the opening quarter.
They tidied things up in this area and finished with 13.
ROB BEHVAING BADLY
It wasn’t a great night for Melbourne centre Rob Loe.
He has a knack of attracting fouls and had three in just 3.24 minutes in the opening quarter.
Before Wednesday night, Loe had left the game with five fouls five times this season, more than any of his teammates.
His tally is now six.
Marcus Lee was one of them coming from just 8.44 minutes of court time against the Sydney Kings at Quodos Stadium in round 6 win.
Loe was looking to top that against Perth, but lasted 10.57 minutes before attracting his fifth foul late in the fourth term.
SIXTH-MAN SENSATION STARS AS KINGS SMASH PHOENIX
The career-best form of sixth man sensation Kouat Noi continued as the Sydney Kings made a statement with a 103-92 win over a slow-out-of-the-blocks South East Melbourne Phoenix at the State Basketball Centre in Melbourne on Wednesday night.
Noi backed up his career-high 32 against Tasmania on Sunday with 24 points, including six threes, and five rebounds in a scintillating performance off the bench.
The 26-year-old forward laid the foundations with a dominant 18 first half points.
It was a much-needed impact from Noi with starting centre Xavier Cooks in foul trouble and sitting most of the first half.
Cooks was restricted to just seven points for the game, but numerous others picked up the slack.
SMOOTH OPERATOR
Kings point guard Jaylen Adams produced a late game masterclass.
Adams was felled late in the third with a back injury, but returned in the fourth to be the calming influence to help guide the Kings to victory when Phoenix tried to pull off a stunning late comeback, getting to within seven after trailing by 23 at one point.
Adams finished with 20 points and nine assists, but could be in some doubt for Friday night’s home clash with Adelaide 36ers with the injury cloud hovering over him.
In a battle of two sides hunting a top two berth, it was the Kings who were the hungriest early.
Warriors on the road, the Kings made it four consecutive away wins, with their fast start to the game the key.
Their third consecutive win has improved their record to 16-10 and all of the sudden the top two sides will be looking sheepishly into the rear view mirror.
The Kings raced to a 62-45 half-time lead, and played with stunning precision on offence and shared the load.
The Kings made it a regular season series sweep of the Phoenix.
The one-sided history continued with the Kings making it 16 wins in their past 20 meetings against the Phoenix.
SOBES SHOW FIGHT
Phoenix veteran Nathan Sobey tried his utmost to lift the Phoenix.
Sobey had 28 points, including a perfect 11-11 from the free throw line, but the Phoenix were at times too reliant on his scoring.
The veteran guard had 21 points by half time and was the only reason why the Phoenix were still in the game.
Star forward Matt Hurt scored a measly two points in the first half and finished with just 11.
Owen Foxwell injected some energy into the Phoenix in the second half with 15 points, but the deficit proved too much.
Phoenix’s top two hopes took a huge blow.
Worryingly, the performance they served up was so far off the form that saw them enter the game on a four-game winning streak.
It was a rough start for Phoenix.
The home side worked hard to find good looks from point blank range, but missed a succession of elementary layups.
The Kings, who lived at the free throw line with 11-from-12 in the first quarter, opened up a double digit lead midway through the first.
Forward Bul Kuol was the spark plug for the Kings with eight of the Kings’ first 10 points, while forward Cam Oliver spoke about the importance of a fast start for the Kings in the lead up to the game and he provided a tasty one-two punch with Kuol, utilising his physical attributes to good effect to put up 10 in the first.
OLI BULLY
Oliver was a bully with 16 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
The Kings domination continued into the third - up 23 midway through the quarter.
But the Phoenix refused to throw in the towel, getting to within 11 points at three quarter time.
The Phoenix had no quit in them, but this was too big a mountain to climb.
A late chase down block from Joe Wieskamp on Noi showed that Phoenix was willing to fight to the bitter end, but this was deservedly the Kings night.
HAWKS SWEAT DAYS’ FITNESS
-Robert Dillon
The Illawarra Hawks have suffered a body blow in the countdown to the playoffs after import Darius Days was injured in a 121-87 hammering of Brisbane on Monday night.
Days limped off Wollongong Entertainment Centre after only one minute 48 seconds of court time, clutching his left hamstring.
He was unable to return.
The 25-year-old power forward from Florida has been a mainstay for the Hawks this season, appearing in all 25 games thus far.
He now appears set for an extended stint on the sidelines, and Hawks coach Justin Tatun will be sweating on his recovery with just four games left in Illawarra’s regular season.
While Days has been largely overshadowed this season by compatriots Trey Kell III and Tyler Havey, he has nonetheless been a key contributor for the Hawks throughout this campaign.
“They can probably get by without him, but you don’t want it to be for long,” Foxtel commentator Derek Rucker said.
In Days’ absence, Illawarra’s back-up brigade did not miss a beat as the Hawks consolidated top spot in the race for the play-offs, improving their record to 17-8 in the process.
The Hawks led by 15 points at each of the first two breaks, and blew it out to 91-60 by the end of the third quarter.
The Hawks clearly enjoyed the chance to finetune their offence.
Tatum took the chance to give his fringe players court time and the Hawks had no fewer than 12 scorers.
PAIN BARRIER
Brisbane had more than their own fair share of injury woes.
Eight of their squad were unavailable, including game-breaker Casey Prather.
Prather explained that he had an ankle problem but hoped to miss just the one game.
It was the seventh loss in the past eight games for Brisbane, who are fast losing contact with the top six.
STREAK CONTINUES
The result continued Illawarra’s recent dominance of Brisbane.
The Hawks have now beaten the Bullets in four consecutive games.
MILESTONE MAN
Hawks skipper Tyler Havey was all class in his milestone 150th NBL game.
Harvey delivered his usual polished performance with 10 points, seven assists, two rebounds and three steals before a well-earned early mark.
ALL-ROUND HANDYMAN
Illawarra super sub William Hickey reaffirmed his reputation as one of the great team players in the NBL.
He had produced a career-high seven assists before the end of the third quarter.
The Hawks delivered a collective 37 assists in a statistic that highlights their unselfish, team-first ethos.
RETRACTABLE TREY
Trey Kell III has led the scoring for Illawarra this season and is widely regarded as one of the favourites for the MVP.
So it must have been especially satisfying for Tatum to win by such a convincing margin, with his man contributing only five points.
Kell was content to take a back seat, knowing there are bigger games ahead.
Red hot Vasiljevic leads 36ers thumping of Cairns
– Gyan-Reece Rocca
Adelaide 36ers guard Dejan Vasiljevic unleashed a lights out shooting display to power his side to a massive win over the Cairns Taipans.
Midway through the second quarter, the 27-year old sharpshooter had the same number of points as the entire Taipans roster, amassing 21 points and shooting 7-9 from three in the opening half before finishing with 32 points including 10-21 from deep, an equal career high.
Vasiljevic combined with Kendric Davis (27 points from 8-16 FG and nine assists) and former NBA big man Montrezl Harrell (17 points from 7-17 and 13 rebounds) to lead their side to a 99-75 victory following a difficult week off the floor.
“I was due for a game like this,” Vasiljevic said at halftime.
“Whatever the (Taipans) defence was giving me, I was taking. I was getting on the move in Perth and I just (managed) to make shots today.”
Another season in the City of Churches has been plagued by off-court issues between star players and the coach.
Following the reported locker room blow-up between import point guard Davis and the 36ers head coach Mike Wells.
However, the ‘dysfunctional’ side had no problems dismantling the Taipans in front of a packed out Orange Army.
TAIPANS HORROR RUN AT HOME CONTINUES
It was a disappointing display from the home side who came into the game on the back of a 111-80 thrashing of the Brisbane Bullets on Friday night.
Cairns side has now lost each of its last nine home games in a season to forget.
Taipans point guard Taran Armstrong (11 points from 4-12 FG and three assists) was outclassed by scoring machine Davis.
Snake’s twin towers Tanner Groves (23 points from 9-15 FG and nine rebounds) and Akoldah Gak (12 points and 10 rebounds) were the two standouts who battled hard from the opening tip-off.
Groves was dangerous from range, while having a presence around the glass.
Harrell with AUTHORITY 😮
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HARRELL AND DAVIS SHOW THEIR CLASS
The 38-12 opening quarter lead powered by Vasiljevic was always going to be hard for the Snakes to overcome.
However the elite duo of Davis and Harrell kept the scoreboard ticking over for the 36ers.
With the Taipans hesitant to afford ‘DJ’ any space, the pick and roll combination of the Davis and Harrell took full advantage of the extra space.
Davis – who spent the pre-season in the NBA Summer League with the Portland Trailblazers – was able to thread the needle to the 2020 NBA sixth man of the year on a number of occasions, while Harrell’s passing is an underrated skill of his game.
Houston-born guard was averaging 25.3 points (49 per cent FG), 7.8 assists, 4 rebounds heading into the contest.
Davis has recorded 15+ points and 5+ assists in 16 consecutive appearances – longest active streak of any player in the league.
Former Taipans forward Lat Mayen racked up to eight rebounds against his former side.
Kings survive massive JackJumpers scare
— Sean Teuma
Sydney has survived an almighty scare to keep its slim hopes of a top-two NBL finish alive after being pushed to their limits by Tasmania.
In front of the biggest crowd of the NBL season, the Kings threatened to throw away a handy fourth-quarter buffer.
The JackJumpers came from six down to hit the lead in the home stretch, before the Kings closed out the game with a 18-4 run to prevail 88-77.
It was again the heroics of Kouat Noi from the bench that made the difference for the Kings, piling on 32 points (18-19 FT) to continue his red-hot form.
Milton Doyle was a standout for the visitors in defeat with 21 points and seven rebounds.
The win keeps Sydney right in the hunt for a top-two spot ahead of a must-win clash with SEM Phoenix on Wednesday, while the JackJumpers keep the door open for Adelaide to leap them into sixth spot.
VISITORS’ HOME COOKING
Tasmania did a good job early of slowing the game down to their pace with Sydney having trouble breaking through the zone.
An 8-0 run was matched with 10 unanswered points from the Kings however as the JackJumpers went cold.
They went scoreless for three minutes, and Gorjok Gak’s drought-breaking bucket drew the ire of the crowd and Brian Goorjian alike.
Gak appeared to dig his shoulder straight into the chest of Bul Kuol, but was somehow rewarded with an and-one opportunity as the visitors trailed by one at the first break.
FORGETTABLE FIRST HALF
It’s fair to say neither side was able to set the world alight in the opening half as they continued to jack-up threes at will.
They had a combined 72 points at the half with 6-29 shooting from long range, creating a tough watch for the neutral.
Seven points in the second term from Milton Doyle helped keep Tasmania in the hunt, while a crafty play from Cam Oliver turned a Jaylen Adams airball into a lay-up right on the buzzer to put the Kings ahead by four.
NOI OWNS THE THIRD
Noi has helped Sydney get out of a few holes this season and it was all him in the third quarter.
He scored 15 of the Kings’ 18 points for the term as the home side threatened to blow the game wide open when they opened up an eight-point advantage.
The tenacity of Tasmania was on full display however, as a 13-3 run helped them trail by just one coming into the final quarter.
PAINT THE TOWN PINK
The Kings shared the court with the Sydney Flames in a double header and the annual Pink Hoops event in support of the McGrath Foundation.
It helped draw the biggest crowd in the NBL since game five of the 2023 grand final series, with 16,705 fans packing through the turnstiles.
Hawks prove title credentials in big win over United
– Robert Dillon
Ladder leaders Illawarra have taken a massive step towards qualifying first in the NBL play-offs after slam-dunking their nearest rivals Melbourne United 117-92 in Wollongong on Saturday night.
Heading into the blockbuster clash, the Hawks and United were level at the top of the table with 15 wins, along with the Perth Wildcats.
Illawarra, however, had the best percentage (108.83) of the three, and reinforced their claims for the minor premiership with arguably their most emphatic performance of the season.
MVP candidate Trey Kell III again led the way for the Hawks with 23 points, four rebounds and three assists.
He received the usual valuable support from skipper Tyler Harvey (20 points, five rebounds, nine assists) and big man Sam Froling (14 points, 10 rebounds).
Illawarra took a firm grip on the victory in the second quarter, when they forged a 58-46 lead by halftime, which they increased to 85-66 by the end of the third term.
With five games left in the regular season, Illawarra are increasingly looking like the team to beat. The minor premiership is theirs to lose.
It was an unexpected reality check for United, who were coming off gutsy wins against Sydney (90-88) and New Zealand (91-89) in the preceding week.
PAYBACK, TIMES TWO
There was no love lost in October, when United sprung a 92-87 ambush on the Hawks’ home turf.
That result prompted a post-match blow-up from Illawarra coach Justin Tatum, which cost him a $3000 fine.
Illawarra balanced the ledger with a 106-93 square-up in Melbourne last month.
Now the Hawks have made it 2-1 to grab a psychological advantage heading into the business end of the season over one of their main rivals.
“It’s a concern,” Foxtel commentator Andrew Gaze replied when asked if the defeat would leave United mentally scarred.
HOT SHOT NO FLOP
United veteran Chris Goulding remains a villain in the eyes of Hawks fans.
Criticised by coach Tatum for allegedly taking “flops” in the first-round clash, Goulding was greeted by fans waving a “flop count” banner.
The 36-year-old duly obliged by crashing to the court early in the first quarter after a heavy collision that left him nursing a shoulder injury.
It didn’t seem to affect his game, however.
Soon after he nailed one from the field to extend a remarkable streak.
Goulding has now scored at least one three-pointer in his past 86 matches, a stat no current NBL player can match.
FREE-FOR-ALL
The winning margin could have been even larger.
The Hawks had a wayward night at the free-throw line, missing 14 of 29 attempts.
TOOTH AND NAIL
Adding to Melbourne’s woes, forward Jack White faces a visit to the dentist.
White lost a tooth during the match and handed it to an off-court teammate after copping a heavy knock.
It was apparently a fake tooth after the original version was written off in a previous game.
SOBERY BLITZ KEEPS PHOENIX IN SIX
— Lance Jenkinson
A Nathan Sobey blitz ensured South East Melbourne Phoenix held off a persistent New Zealand Breakers to win a hard-fought battle 102-89 at the State Basketball Centre in Wantirna South on Saturday night.
With a play-in tournament berth all but sewn up, the Phoenix can start daring to dream of a top two finish.
The Phoenix has moved four games clear inside the top six on the back of a fourth consecutive win and their high standards remained without injured starting point guard Derrick Walton Jr.
It is staggering to think this same Phoenix team started the season 0-5 because now they are a genuine title threat.
After starting the game on a 15-2 run, the Phoenix had to dig deep to eke out a win over a Breakers side that refused to roll over, despite being down 19 at one point in the second.
Breakers’ 17-year-old phenom Karim Lopez threatened to take the game away from the Phoenix.
The Next Star forward posted a career high 20 points, including four threes, and six rebounds in a dazzling display that will have the NBA recruiters taking note.
Breakers’ shooting guard Matt Mooney had the hot hand late.
The import was scorching in the fourth to finish with 20 points, with four triples.
Scorching Sobey
Phoenix veteran Nathan Sobey said ‘enough is enough’, putting the Phoenix on his back late every time the Breakers threatened.
Sobey has been on fire of late and continued his resurgence with a game-high 28 points, nine assists and four rebounds.
It was 34-year-old’s third straight 25-plus points game.
Import forward Joe Wieskamp was huge down the stretch for Phoenix with 17 points, while Matt Hurt was limited to 14 after back-to-back 30+ point games.
The Phoenix has won nine of their past 11 games to improve to 14-10, while the Breakers top six hopes are all but over at 9-16.
SETTING THE TONE
With seven-foot-six centre Tacko Fall starting for the Breakers, it was crucial that Phoenix centre Jordan Hunter stretched the floor and took the big man out of the paint to open up space for his teammates, and his first action was to do just that, stepping out of the paint to swish a three.
Hunter not only displayed his mobility, he was also up to the physical challenge, drawing two early fouls on Fall, which forced Breakers coach Petteri Koponen to sub Fall out of the game.
With Fall benched, the Phoenix charged out to a 15-2 lead, as their offensive game hummed, while the Breakers started a sloppy 1-9 from the field.
The Phoenix’s array of offensive weapons was on show, with all the starters joining the scoring party as they raced to a 30-17 quarter time lead.
Diminutive Breaker point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright missed consecutive free throws to open the second period and the Phoenix continued to pile on the pain, stretching their lead to 17 just 59 seconds into the second.
PETTERO FUMES
Koponen was furious with his team, calling a time out and ripping into his team for their lacklustre defence.
Seven turnovers to one assist to start the game hurt the Breakers, too.
Despite Sobey threatening to put them to the sword with 12 points at half time, the Breakers went on a run late in the first half, cutting a 19 point deficit to just five at half time, as the Phoenix’s offence became stagnant.
PHOENIX SWITCH OFF
The Phoenix’s tendency to switch off for periods in games showed and they went from a commanding position to lead by just 49-44 at the half, with 5-18 from three to that point hurting their cause.
Lopez was becoming a problem for Phoenix in the third.
The Mexican fired in two threes to cut the Phoenix’s lead to just three, while Jackson-Cartwright started to get off the leash.
Back to back Wieskamp threes steadied the Phoenix, restoring their nine-point lead at three quarter time
Matt Mooney produced a scorching fourth quarter, but Sobey had the final say.
36ERS DOWN TO WILDCATS AS DISMAL AWAY RECORD CONTINUES
—Bradley Elborough
The Adelaide 36ers were able to keep Perth Wildcats star Bryce Cotton relatively quiet, to his lofty standards, but failed to find a rare away win, at RAC Stadium on Friday night.
The 110-103 loss took the 36ers away record to a dismal 2-9 for the season, the worst in the competition.
They remain in seventh spot on the NBL ladder and in the race to qualify for the play-in tournament race.
But the losses away from Adelaide continue to mount and are now a massive issue.
They sit two games behind sixth-placed Tasmania JackJumpers, who lost to New Zealand on Thursday night
They have six games to play, but four of them are on the road, starting on Sunday in Cairns, more than seven hours in the air, plus transits, from Perth.
WELCOME BACK KD
Cotton was looking at having a quiet night, but finished with 22 points including 14 in a tight final quarter. Add seven assists to that.
The return to form of Kristian Doolittle was the difference though.
He was playing his second game back from a groin injury and dominated the second half. He added 18 points after the main break and recorded a double double with 10 rebounds.
MIND ON THE JOB
If the Adelaide 36ers Kendric Davis is not seeing eye-to-eye with coach Mike Wells, he’s not letting it impact on his game.
The 36ers import reportedly had a heated discussion with his coach after they beat Illawarra last round.
But Davis was right back to business on Friday, dropping a game high 31 points.
He had 11 points in the opening term as Adelaide opened a 24-22 lead.
The Wildcats hadn’t trailed at any break over the four previous games, since their loss to the Illawarra Hawks in round 13.
Davis had 20 by halftime, but the Wildcats had opened an 11-point lead (52-41), despite Cotton being restricted to just seven points.
BLOW FOR CATS IMPORT
Perth’s win was more impressive considering they did it without import Dylan Winder for more than three quarters of it.
Windler started the game hot, dropping eight points with the clock showing just less than two minutes remaining in the first term.
But an errant hand across the face from Adelaide’s Jarrell Martin during a tussle for a rebound, resulted in a cut above his eye and ended his night prematurely.
The Wildcats do well when Windler is doing well. They are 8-0 when he scores 15 points or more and in his two previous appearances against Adelaide, averaged 18.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.5 blocks and 4.5 threes.
OPEN IT AND THEY WILL COME
The promise of an open roof drew a crowd to RAC Arena.
The 13,570 attendance is the fourth biggest regular season crowd in Perth.
Sadly, with rain in the area, the unique spectacle didn’t last long.
The roof was only opened halfway and was closed in less than three minutes of the second term starting.
SLICK SNAKES BURY BULLETS IN ONE-SIDED SUNSHINE STOUSH
– Nick Tucker
A horror 72-hour stretch for the Brisbane Bullets came to a close on Friday night when the play-in hopefuls were blown out by cellar dwellers Cairns Taipans.
The last-placed Taipans completed a successful hit-and-run mission at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre by winning comprehensively 111-80, knocking the Bullets further down the playoff pecking order.
In the process, Cairns staked their claim for the handsome $50,000 Summer Shootout cash prize by racking up a season-best score of 111, which trumped the previous top score of 105.
“It’s good to be on the other side of it,” said Cairns livewire Taran Armstrong after a rough-and-tumble season for the boys up North.
Cairns were cooking with gas in the first half to lead comfortably, 62-45, at the main break. Things did not get easier for Brisbane as the game went on.
In fact, it got even uglier.
The Bullets, who just two nights ago trailed by as many as 29 before losing 112-85 against Perth at home, were able to limit their rivals to 49 points in the final two quarters but could only amass a measly 35 themselves in a less than ordinary shooting performance (27-73 FG).
It was just one of those nights.
HE’S A BAD MAN
Cairns flamethrower Rob Edwards was Brisbane’s worst nightmare in the first half with his sharp footwork and smooth stroke delivering 22 of the 62 points scored by his team.
Edwards (35pts) could not be contained in his season-best scoring effort. His patterned step back three from in front to beat the halftime buzzer was the icing on the cake after he put the Bullets to the sword alongside pacy guard Taran Armstrong (19pts) and unassuming big man Tanner Groves (17pts).
Armstrong, who put up 15 points in the first half, was at his best in transition, while Groves was busy on the boards (4rbs) and on the block, scoring 15 points on 4-6 shooting.
Cairns spark plug Kyle Adnam played a starring role off the bench in the third quarter when Brisbane rallied to cut the lead.
He scored eight points in 90 seconds to maintain Cairns’ double-digit lead and Brisbane, having thrown 10 turnovers through the first three quarters, had no answer going the other way.
“This was a snapshot of what the vision was,” Cairns coach Adam Forde said.
“We are playing for pride.”
ADAMS CATCHES FIRE
Brisbane replacement player Josh Adams showed his worth when it was needed most in a tough early going for the home side.
Brisbane conceded 31 in each of the first two quarters and their offence wasn’t much better than their defence, which allowed nine fast break points and had them trailing by as many as 17. Cairns leaked just two turnovers in the opening 20 minutes and despite getting annihilated on the offensive rebounds, Brisbane couldn’t make a splash in the second half.
Adams found his rhythm quickly with a pair of jump shots before finishing the half with eight points (4-5 FG), an assist and a rebound.
Casey Prather, Brisbane’s prime mover all year, was quiet with 22 points (7-18 FG), while key forward Josh Bannan (16pts, 2-10 FG) and streaky two-way guard Keandre Cook (13pts, 5-16FG) struggled.
BRICKLAYING BULLETS
The home side did themselves no favours on both sides of the floor and from the jump, Cairns had their measure.
The shorthanded Bullets, missing key figures like Tyrell Harrison, James Batemon, Deng Adel and Sam McDaniel, racked up just 35 points in a sloppy second half showing.
On the defensive end Brisbane let in 20 fast break points and despite winning the rebounding battle (20 offensive rebounds), they couldn’t buy a bucket (36 % FG).
“One of the challenges right now is we just haven’t had practise time,” Brisbane coach Justin Schueller said.
“Josh Adams hasn’t practised with us … The reality is we won’t get that before Illawarra as well.”
On one occasion the Bullets forced three stops in a row and couldn’t convert for a bucket. Another time they forced four missed shots in one possession by Cairns but went without a score on the other end after reeling in the defensive rebound.
“The frustration is we don’t reward ourselves after we do come up with good defensive plays,” Bullets captain Mitch Norton said.
BREAKERS TRIUMPH OVER JEKYLL AND HYDE JJS
– Jon Tuxworth
A historic quarter to quarter scoring reversal couldn’t prevent the JackJumpers squandering a golden chance to shore up a top six spot in Thursday’s 85-75 road loss to New Zealand.
Led by a superb game from big man Sam Mennenga, who scored 21 of his career high 29 points in the second half, the Breakers secured just their fourth win in their past 16 games.
The JackJumpers scored only eight points in the first quarter, the lowest scoring term in club history, to trail 19-8, and also committed eight turnovers.
Incredibly they backed it up with a club-high 37 points in the second quarter, led by 17 from guard Jordon Crawford (26 points), and didn’t turn the ball over once to take a 45-39 halftime advantage.
But injuries forced Tasmania to field a small line up, and it eventually told late in the piece with Mennenga (13-15 FG, 3-4 three pointers, nine rebounds) dominating in the second half. He was ably assisted by Tacko Fall (11 points) in the third term, while youngster Karim Lopez (17 points) also showed his class.
Tasmania led by ten points early in the second half but their offense dried up markedly again to fall to 12-12 for the season.
The JackJumpers were desperate to bounce back from Sunday’s 105-73 loss to Perth, their biggest home defeat in history.
After a sloppy start they looked to have steadied the ship in the second term, but their patchy scoring again cost them dearly.
LACK OF HEIGHT COSTLY
Tasmania fielded one of the smallest line-ups the NBL has seen in the absence of key bigs Will Magnay and Majok Deng, both out through injury.
They did an admirable job on the glass, losing rebound count narrowly 35-33, with veteran Fabijan Krslovic (14 points, six rebounds, four assists) battling manfully.
But the Breakers’ size down the stretch proved too much to contain.
HISTORIC MOMENTUM SWING
You could have been forgiven for thinking the JackJumpers’ first and second quarters were played by two different teams.
The first quarter (eight points) was their lowest scoring in club history, and the second (37) their highest scoring in one of the more insane statistics in recent NBL memory.
However it was a second half fade out against the ninth-placed Breakers they could ill-afford as they look to hold off the chasing pack and hold onto a top six spot in their title defence.
Sixth-placed Tasmania only narrowly scored more points in the other three quarters combined than their second quarter blitz (38-37).
They missed a huge chance to build a sizeable gap from seventh-placed Adelaide (10-12) and eighth-placed Brisbane (10-13) before two more road games against Sydney on Sunday and South East Melbourne next Saturday.
Originally published as NBL Round 17: Melbourne United spoils Bryce Cotton’s 250th game with win in the west
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