NBL Week 13 news: Brisbane Bullets’ rise continues as Prather leads victory over disappointing 36ers
Another star showing from Casey Prather has led Brisbane into the top six, as the Bullets get the better of a strong Kendric Davis and the 36ers.
Another star turn from Kendric Davis wasn’t enough to save the Adelaide 36ers from a crushing Christmas Eve loss, Casey Prather overcoming a slow start to lead the Brisbane Bullets to a commanding 21-point win.
It was neck-and-neck in the first half, but the Bullets edged to a three-point lead at halftime and didn’t trail for the rest of the night.
Brisbane’s lead was eight heading into the final term at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, but the visitors stormed away from the disappointing 36ers, who struggled on offence with DJ Vasiljevic still missing with a hamstring injury, and on defence too with Sunday Dech also sidelined.
The result rocketed Brisbane back into the top six with a 9-8 record and condemned the struggling Sixers to a sixth loss in seven games with a 7-10 record.
Can't stop Keandre Cook 🫣
— NBL (@NBL) December 24, 2024
Catch the action live on ESPN 📺 pic.twitter.com/7jEbtxMisV
Prather overcame a slow start to finish with a game-high 36 points, including seven three-pointers, with Keandre Cook (24 points) and Isaac White (22) the next best, while Davis had a team-high 32 points for Adelaide.
Montrezl Harrell finished with 16 points and nine rebounds, but wasn’t able to have the momentum-shifting influence he is capable of in front of the home fans.
WHITE HOT
Adelaide lad Isaac White got his first career start for the Bullets in the absence of injured import James Batemon (hamstring) and the former Sturt Sabres star grasped his opportunity in spectacular fashion.
White led all comers with a season-high 14 points in the first quarter and equalled his career-high tally with 18 points two minutes into the second on 8-from-11 shooting.
White’s stellar play was a key factor for Brisbane as the two sides went head-to-head in the first half.
The lead changed hands 12 times in an even first half, with Adelaide getting out to a four-point lead and the visitors leading by as much as six late in the second quarter before having their noses in front by three at the main break.
FREE THROW WOES
Prather had zero points in the first quarter, but got hot in the second and third to lead the way with a game-high 25 points at three-quarter time.
The Bullets led by a game-high 11 points late in the third term and Adelaide’s poor shooting from the foul line was a factor.
The home side converted just 12 of 21 free throws across the first three quarters, with Harrell’s woes from the stripe a factor, the star making 5-from-12 at 41 per cent.
Given his yips from the line, the last thing Trez needed was time to think about his woes but that’s exactly what happened in the third quarter.
Having drawn a foul, play was halted for a couple of minutes as a scoreboard technical issue was sorted out, but Harrell exorcised his mental demons to drain both shots.
Adelaide finished 16-from-28 at 57 per cent from the foul line to Brisbane’s 22-from-27 at 81 per cent.
United’s woes continue as Jackies get the jump on Melbourne
Melbourne United’s woes continue to grow after producing an ugly display in a 97-91 loss to the in-form Tasmania JackJumpers in the grand final rematch at John Cain Arena on Monday night.
United was a runaway ladder leader at the start of December, but four straight losses has seen their top two spot come under increasing threat.
The frustration told on United late with centre Rob Loe getting tossed from the game with a disqualifying foul for a stray elbow on JackJumpers forward Anthony Drmic.
With their next seven games on the road, when will United arrest its slide?
Returning to the scene of the greatest triumph in their club’s history, their first ever championship, the JackJumpers kept the good times rolling at the Swan Street venue.
The JackJumpers are in white hot form, registering a sixth consecutive win.
They have improved to 8-2 all-time at John Cain Arena and have now beaten United in seven of their past eight meetings at the venue.
It was a gutsy win from the JackJumpers, who are navigating their way without starting centre Will Magnay, who is out with a fractured toe.
The victory was achieved by committee, more so than individual brilliance.
The unheralded Reuben Te Rangi set the tone early for the JackJumpers with an efficient 15 points on 5-7 shooting and five rebounds.
Forward Majok Deng was huge in the middle parts of the game with 11 points off the bench, while speedy guard Jordan Crawford brought it home with 16 points and six assists.
United miss starters gun
On the back of a three-game losing streak where their defensive toughness had come under question, United could not have made a worse start on defence, conceding 36 points in the first quarter.
United just looked a step off from the outset and it saw them trail big 36-26 at quarter time.
The JackJumpers’ healthy lead was built on the back of their stunning success from three-point land, where they hit 6-10 for a 60 per cent return in the first.
Te Rangi scored six of the first 11 JackJumpers points.
Captain fantastic
JackJumpers captain Clint Steindl was a perfect three-from-three from beyond the arc, but he was forced to the locker room after just 3:42 on court after rolling an ankle on the third of his threes.
With Magnay out with a fractured toe, the last thing the Jackies could afford was another injury to one of the team leaders.
The Jackies maintained their focus, opening up a double-digit lead late in the first quarter with Steindl off the court.
Steindl returned in the second quarter and immediately drew a foul on a three-point shot, where he scored all three from the charity stripe.
CG’s promising return
United captain Chris Goulding, returning from a calf injury, made a hot start with nine first quarter points, much-needed offensive punch with the team’s defence getting carved apart.
Goulding was on-song in the first half, scoring 14 points, including three threes.
Goulding finished with a team-high 18 points, including four threes.
Trailing by just four entering the third after going into half time on an 11-0 run, it was a messy opening the third period for United, missing three chances at the rim, as the JackJumpers opened up a nine-point lead after threes to Te Rangi and Fabijan Krslovic.
United chipped away, getting the deficit to within one, trailing 68-67 at three quarter time.
When Loe was tossed from the game, their momentum seeped away.
Centre Marcus Lee, returning from a two-game absence with a back injury, tried to inspire a United comeback with 14 points when Loe was given his marching orders, but the JackJumpers were just too good in the end.
HAWKS TAME COTTON, CATS TO CONTINUE NBL DOMINANCE
Illawarra Hawks coach Justin Tatum has saluted his players after they successfully shut down Perth maestro Bryce Cotton in a 120-88 hammering of the Wildcats in Sunday’s NBL showdown in Wollongong.
Cotton arrived at the Sandpit in record-breaking form, having strung together four consecutive games in which he contributed 40 points or more – a feat last achieved in the NBL way back in 1991 by the legendary Andrew Gaze.
Lauded in recent days as the best player in NBL history and being “too good” for the Australian competition, Cotton appeared set to continue his scoring spree when he banged in 13 points in the first quarter, despite being heavily targeted by the Hawks in defence.
But then, inexplicably, normal service was disrupted as Illawarra systematically suffocated the 32-year-old from Tucson, Arizona, who failed to post a solitary point after halftime.
“We know that Bryce is like a microwave – he’s cooking right now,” Tatum said.
“And it’s great to see as a fan, when we watch him. But when we’re playing against him, we want everything difficult … to hold someone as exceptionally great offensively as Bryce is, it’s kudos to the team.”
To be fair, Cotton spent most of the final two quarters on the bench, because the Hawks were so far in front.
His rare off-night allowed Illawarra to surge to a 63-48 lead by the main break – the most points the competition leaders have scored in a first half this season.
The game was well and truly in their control when they progressed to an 89-63 advantage at the end of the third term.
HAWKS’ EYES ON PRIZE
Who can stop the Hawks?
That remains the big question after Justin Tatum’s men consolidated top spot with their 12th win in 17 games this season.
Worryingly for their opposition, the Hawks appear to be warming to the task.
They were already the NBL’s highest-scoring team before Sunday’s game and upped the ante with an offensive masterclass.
As ESPN commentator Derek Rucker observed: “Illawarra are sending a message to the rest of the league. If you want to come to the ‘Gong, you better bring it.”
Perth coach John Rillie could only admire Illawarra’s display.
“They just dominated … they’re the best team in the league right now for a reason,” Rillie said.
“So for us to come into this environment, to understand what that level is about, we really saw that first-hand today.”
Hickey gives Pepper the too small 👀
— NBL (@NBL) December 22, 2024
Watch live on ESPN | 10 & 10 Play 📺 pic.twitter.com/FXbFxDSxvw
TREI LEADS THE WAY
Possibly motivated by the hype surrounding Cotton, Illawarra import Trei Kell III produced the performance of his NBL career.
The 30-year-old journeyman from San Diego contributed a personal-best 31 points, five rebounds and four assists.
HARVEY ON TARGET
Hawks captain Tyler Havey passed a rare individual milestone in the opening quarter when he became the first Hawk to register 400 three-pointers.
Harvey is the seventh-fastest player in NBL history to crack the quadruple century from the field.
As if in a bid to upstage Cotton, he celebrated soon afterwards by sinking another three-point shot from even longer range.
“Tyler said: ‘That was amazing Bryce, but this is still my house’,” Rucker quipped.
XMAS KIT
The Hawks made the occasion even more memorable for a sellout home crowd by wearing a special festive-season kit, which gave them the appearance of Christmas crackers, or gift-wrapped presents.
“I love it,” Rucker said of the playing strip. “They look cheerful.”
They played that way, too.
LAST-DITCH CONSOLATION
The Wildcats were seconds away from their worst loss in their history, only for a last-ditch three-point shot on the buzzer to spare their blushes.
It was a reality check for Perth, who had won four of their previous five matches to climb to fourth on the ladder.
REMEMBER ME? RESURGENT DWJ INSPIRES PHOENIX ROMP
South East Melbourne Phoenix has leapt into the top six and looms as a serious threat to the rest of the competition after obliterating Adelaide 36ers 106-86 in the Open Roof Game at John Cain Arena on Saturday night.
The super-confident Phoenix have turned the Swan Street venue into a fortress, making it six consecutive wins on their home court.
The Phoenix are unrecognisable from the team that started the season 0-5.
Phoenix coach Josh King has his team playing the game at a supersonic speed, taking no plays off defensively and sharing the responsibilities, with an ability to delve deep into the bench for production.
WALTON JR DAZZLES
Boom recruit Derrick Walton Jr is starting to find his feet as a Phoenix player.
The star point guard was prominent in the Throwdown win over Melbourne United and maintained the rage with a stellar performance against the 36ers.
Walton Jr produced a game-high 28 points, including 6-10 from three-point land, to go with six rebounds and three assists.
More importantly, Walton Jr is moving with freedom, showing no signs of the hamstring injury that dogged him earlier in the season.
Malique Lewis takes flight 🚀
— NBL (@NBL) December 21, 2024
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MVP CHANCE?
Is it time for Phoenix import Matt Hurt to enter the MVP conversation?
Hurt just continues to score for fun.
The 24-year-old, one of only three players averaging 20 points per game heading in, maintained his consistency with 23 points on an efficient 9-12 shooting, to go with seven rebounds and four assists.
Phoenix’s guards were safe as houses, committing just eight turnovers, as they valued each possession, with five of them coming in fourth quarter junk time.
But the Phoenix is not afraid to roll the dice, as exhibited by young guard Owen Foxwell and Next Star Malique Lewis late in the game, when Foxwell stole the ball and unleashed Lewis for a skyscraping dunk with an audacious pass.
Now the question is, can the Phoenix replicate the form that has seen them win four of their past five games on the road, where they will be for the next three games, starting with a New Year’s Eve bout with Illawarra Hawks.
Hurt's step-back oh so smooth🤧
— NBL (@NBL) December 21, 2024
Watch live on ESPN 📺 pic.twitter.com/NjzJDPlE1A
ROAD WORRIES
The 36ers crumbled after quarter time.
Their road form is starting to become an anchor haltering their progress, with their away record an abysmal 1-6.
Electric Import guard Kendric Davis tried to spark a second half comeback with 24 points, eight assists and six rebounds, but the damage was done early.
Isaac Humphries finished with a double-double 17 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks, and looked threatening at times.
The star attraction, Montrezl Harrell, was largely kept in check as the former NBA star finished with 15 points and five rebounds, certainly a manageable output from the Phoenix’s viewpoint.
The 36ers, 1-5 on the road this season, wanted to get off to a good start to take the crowd out of it, but it was the Phoenix started strongly, taking a 8-0 lead on the back of threes to Derrick Walton Jr and Nathan Sobey, and the crowd at the Fire Pit, already amped up from their pre-game laser show, was as noisy as it had been all season.
It took over two minutes for the 36ers to register their first basket, a triple to forward Lat Mayen, triggering a promising 10-0 run for the 36ers.
But that’s where the joy ended for the Sixers, who have to lick their wounds before facing Brisbane Bullets in a crucial game at Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Christmas Eve.
NBL SCOREBOARD
South East Melbourne Phoenix 106 (Walton Jr 28 Hurt 23 Glover 15) d Adelaide 36ers 86 (Davis 24 Humphries 17 Harrell 15.
At John Cain Arena, Melbourne.
BULLETS STAR CONDEMNS TAIPANS TO ANOTHER DEFEAT
The Brisbane Bullets came up trumps in a frantic Sunshine Stoush spectacle that delivered the goods at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Friday night.
The Bullets bounced back into the winners circle with star guard Casey Prather pouring in 35 points in the thrill-a-minute 107-104 bounce-back victory over Queensland rivals Cairns.
On the flip side, Adam Forde’s Cairns Taipans were sent deeper into a hole, a grim 3-13 hole on the season having suffered their 12th successive loss.
A dazzling display from young gun guard Taran Armstrong, and a 27-point effort from Rob Edwards wasn’t enough to fend off Prather and his sharpshooting sidekick Keandre Cook whose 30-point explosion paved the way to a gritty victory, their eighth in 16 games.
“I thought Dre made some key big shots at big moments that just kept our noses in front and kept allowing us to find some momentum,” Brisbane coach Justin Schuelle said of white-hot import Cook, who has taken a liking to games at the BEC.
“He has really found his level in his league … Same with Casey (Prather). This is some of the best basketball I have seen Casey play,” Schueller said of the most potent attacking players on the court.
PRATHER POURING IT ON
Prather was at the peak of his powers again, a thirty-ball now a regular occurrence for the 33-year-old prime mover.
The NBL veteran and former MBP has been on a tear over the past month and Cook the same, with Brisbane on a 4-1 tear over the past five games with their foots on the throttle.
“We have been building team chemistry and working on a lot of things,” Keandre Cook said.
Casey Prather throws it DOWN 🤯
— NBL (@NBL) December 20, 2024
Catch the action live on ESPN 📺 pic.twitter.com/5nASi0ZolA
One of those things was coach Schueller’s masterstroke shifting Prather to No. 4 where he is too shifty for bigger players and a mismatch nightmare.
It is paying dividends, with Prather the head of the snake in Brisbane’s December charge which claimed a crucial scalp in Cairns.
TAIPAN’S ACE ON STEEP TRAJECTORY
In another loss for the dwindling Taipans, 22-year-old Taran Armstrong emerged as a shining light for the visitors.
The flashy youngster added two rebounds and five assists to his 16 points and had two steals in a promising showing.
There was little gloom and mostly doom however for the visitors, who got great production out of bolt from the blue forward Alex Higgins-Titsha (12pts, 6rbs).
Taran Armstrong with the tough shot 😤
— NBL (@NBL) December 20, 2024
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Coach Forde was quick to sing his praises for taking his chance with both hands in the midst of injury to Cairns top gun Sam Waardenburg (concussion).
“This is his first season in the NBL, he has only played eight games and he has started in three of them now. That is not by design.
“His first year with us was just supposed to be a learning curve … With guys out you get thrown in the deep end and he was great.
“A couple of times he really stepped up to the moment.”
The Bullets will look to make it two on the trot when they face Adelaide, in Adelaide, for a Christmas Eve showdown.
The Taipans will play league leaders Melbourne United on Boxing Day next Thursday when they attempt to snap their losing streak.
NBA hopeful dominates as Kings heap more misery on Breakers
He’s been tipped by some to go in the first round of the NBA draft, and Alex Toohey may have moved up a couple of spots after he dominated in the fourth quarter to help the Kings heap more misery on the Breakers.
The 92-84 result was the home side’s seventh loss on the trot and ruined their return to Spark Arena as Toohey lit it up in the final few minutes to turn a six-point deficit into a crucial win ahead of next week’s Christmas night showdown with the Hawks.
The 20-year-old finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds, with nine of his points coming in the final period as the Kings roared home to silence the home crowd with a 25-15 fourth quarter.
Kouat Noi led the scoring for the visitors with 26 points including 3-5 from deep, while former MVP Jaylen Adams added 17 and saved his best work for the final few minutes as the Kings picked up their 11th win of the season despite trailing by as many as nine points in the third term.
DAVID AND GOLIATH
This was a heartbreaking result for the Breakers who have now lost seven on the bounce despite being the better side for most of the contest.
The diminutive Parker Jackson-Cartwright was brilliant for the hosts, scoring 25 points – including 18 in the first half – while man mountain Tacko Fall used all of his 229cm to terrorise the Kings in the paint.
Fall had 15 points and nine rebounds but the service to the big man wasn’t good enough at times with a number of passes resulting in turnovers.
Friday’s result had nothing to do with Jackson-Cartwright who hit an incredible buzzer-beating step-back three to end the first half, but he just didn’t get enough support from his teammates who missed some wide open shots.
“I just tried to get to that spot and rise up. Good luck,” he said as he walked off the court at the main break.
KARIM LIVING THE TEEN DREAM
Karim Lopez showed why there’s so much hype around him, but the 17-year-old sensation sent a massive scare through Spark Arena when he was helped off the court with a left ankle injury in the fourth quarter.
The Breakers young gun rolled his left ankle while getting back in defence but was able to return to the court shortly after.
The injury threatened to overshadow his career-best night as he dropped 18 points to go with four rebounds and three assists as he held up physically against fully grown men who tried to bully him.
“He’s the most mature kid I’ve ever been around,” Jackson-Cartwright said.
“He’s 17, he comes in everyday, works hard and he loves to compete.”
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