NBL star facing ban for punching Aussie basketball hardman Aron Baynes

A star NBL import is set for a stint on the sidelines for his second sucker punch of the season, this time on Aussie big man Aron Baynes.

Brisbane Bullets kept their playoff dreams alive on Saturday after an enthralling 95-83 victory over the South East Melbourne Phoenix snapped a four-game losing streak.

The Bullets, encouraged by a passionate Nissan Arena crowd, led the entire game after a first half lead of 15 points proved too large for the visitors to come back from.

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The Phoenix came back to trail by five heading into the final quarter, however the brilliance of Nathan Sobey, who scored 35 points, and the harassing defence of Shannon Scott ensured Brisbane fans entered the new year with the hopes of a playoff berth still intact.

Sobey spearheaded the Bullets from start to finish after beginning the game with a two-handed-jam, but a crucial steal from Scott midway through the final frame changed the game.

After a much-needed Sobey three, Scott stole the ball and earned another possession. On that possession, Phoenix guard Gary Browne was ejected for an unsportsmanlike foul where he looked to have swung a hand hard into the stomach of a screen-setting Aron Baynes.

Gary Browne was ejected for striking Aron Baynes.

Scott, one of the competition’s best on-ball-defenders, earning a match-defining seven-point-swing for Brisbane after two Baynes free throws and a lay-up from Sobey took the life out of a Browne-less Phoenix.

But it’s not the first time this season that Browne has hit out at a big man, having been fined $700 (reduced from $1010 with an early guilty plea) for striking an Adelaide 36ers player in November.

The Phoenix could now be without their guard, with a suspension likely.

Oh man, Gary Browne just punched Aron Baynes in the stomach and has been ejected. He knew straight away, too. Brainfade from the Phoenix Star.

— Michael Randall (@MickRandallHS) December 30, 2023

Bad brain explosion from Gary Browne. That’s a suspension coming as well. #NBL24

— Ben Fitzsimons (@BenFitz) December 30, 2023

Prior to his ejection Browne was crafty scoring 13 points while Mitch Creek (11 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, two steals) returned from a knee injury in strong fashion.

Owen Foxwell (11 points), Alan Williams (13 points) Abdel Nader (13 points) and Matt Kenyon (14 points) reached double figures for the visitors in the clash but it was not enough to distinguish a scorching-hot-Sobey who had help in Josh Bannan (17 points), among others.

SOBEY ON A MISSION

Nathan Sobey took it upon himself to get Brisbane off to a flying start on Saturday night, the Boomer slamming home an emphatic dunk off the tip and splashing countless jump shots to finish the first quarter with 13 points.

Sobey, who scored as many first quarter points as he did in four during Wednesday’s loss, said with the season on the line he was looking to stamp his mark early.

“My intent was to come out aggressive and get good looks for myself and my teammates,” Sobey said in an interview at the end of the first frame.

In bright pink shoes and on a night where his jump shot looked crisp as ever, the Boomer gave Brisbane exactly what they wanted, and needed. A good start.

Brisbane led 32-23 after the first frame and then 57-42 at the main break after Sobey’s spectacular first half captain’s knock.

Nathan Sobey starred for the Brisbane Bullets. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

SCHUELLER SHOWS PATIENCE WITH PRATHER

On a night where three-time NBL champion Casey Prather was expected to be the difference maker, it was Brisbane’s Boomer Sobey who turned the tide.

Chasing their first win after four straight losses, many would have expected Prather to have entered the game by the half.

But Brisbane head coach Justin Schueller opted against it, his team playing too well for the exciting injury replacement to be injected into the clash.

In the first half, with the likes of Josh Bannan, Aron Baynes, Mitch Norton and Sam McDaniel chipping in, Schueller’s squad shot 54.5 per cent from the field.

Meanwhile the Melbourne Phoenix shot it at 37.8 per cent, Brisbane’s suffocating defence and loud home crowd creating an edge.

BULLET’S THIRD QUARTER WOES

If the Bullets want to make a push for the playoffs, their third quarter output must get better.

Coach Justin Schueller and Josh Bannan admitted after Wednesday’s loss that the way they came out of the main break had everything to do with their disappointing 81-71 loss at the hands of the BNZ Breakers.

After a strong first half where they posted 57 points, the Bullets lost the third by 10 points and had their lead shrunk to five when beginning the final frame ahead 72-67.

With an eight-point-run in the third, the visitors had found their groove and Brisbane had lost their comfortable 15-point-buffer.