NBL Round 15 news: Prather explodes as Bullets beat the Breakers
Casey Prather underlined his status as one of the NBL’s best players as he led an understrength Bullets to a crucial win against the Breakers. Get the latest NBL news from round 15 here.
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The Brisbane Bullets snapped a worrying three-game losing streak on Wednesday night when restarting their postseason pursuit with a crucial 83-74 triumph over the BNZ Breakers.
It wasn’t pretty but it was a win nonetheless for a seventh-seeded Bullets outfit (10-11 record) racing the clock to sneak into the playoff picture. MVP candidate Casey Prather was a man possessed at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, pouring in 31 points to lead all scorers in a stop-start clash riddled with big misses, technical fouls, athletic dunks and pretty post moves.
Prather, who added two blocks, four assists and nine rebounds to his 30-bomb, was a walking highlight as he so often has proved to be this season averaging more than 20 points and five rebounds per game.
His emphatic one-handed slam three minutes from time put the exclamation point on another influential showing by Brisbane’s prime mover and excitement machine. As did his timely floater with 50 seconds left when the Breakers trailed 77-72 and had their tails up.
It was the dagger, engineered with a handful of crafty dribble moves around the free throw line.
The absence of star Breakers guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright was evident because the visitors could amass just 50 points through the first three quarters. The visitors, now 1-11 in their last 12 games, found plenty of success finding 231cm giant Taco Fall in their past two outings where he racked up 49 points and 21 rebounds.
He had just six points and three rebounds. Sharpshooter Matt Mooney (21 points, 17 in fourth) came alive in the final frame but it was too little too late after the Breakers trailed by 11 with four minutes remaining.
SHOOTING BLANKS
The Bullets got off to a sluggish start and their effort was not reflective of a team fighting the odds to clinch a spot in the top six.
Even with capable scorers Keandre Cook, James Batemon and Josh Adams sidelined, Brisbane had plenty of firepower on the court in Josh Bannan, Prather, Isaac White and Co.
But the Bullets were shooting blanks. They scored just 15 points in the first frame, with too much isolation ball and quick shots plaguing their chances at establishing a telling lead.
Their struggles were eclipsed when two jumpsuits from Deng Adel rolled in and then out.
The home side was lucky the Breakers couldn’t capitalise. Instead, they threw six turnovers to Brisbane’s zero and were lukewarm from deep (2-8 3PT shooting) in the first half.
LOPEZ LIGHTS UP THE BEC
Breakers NBL Next Star Karim Lopez lit up the hardwood in the second quarter when he stuffed home two dunks in a display of sheer athleticism.
The 17-year-old future NBA draft prospect jumped out the gym for a one-handed putback jam and a two-handed rim rattler that sent a tremor down the Bullets bench that sat in awe on the other end of the court.
The athletic young gun had a team high eight points at the main break and his teammate Sean Bairstow, the younger brother of Bullets forward Jared, also made his presence felt as the match to-and-froed.
Bairstow flew down court in the second quarter and attacked the rim before punching it home with two hands. The defence didn’t stand a chance.
One of the Bullets’ best highlights was produced by Josh Bannan when scoring his first points in the third quarter. A Nasty spin to the cup by a decisive Bannan had Breakers defender Kaia stumbling backwards. On the other end, Brisbane captain Mitch Norton kept the momentum when drawing a charge in a show-stopping sequence.
However it was Prather, wearing the famed No.23 jersey, who delivered in spades.
HAWKS ARREST SLIDE
by Robert Dillon
Illawarra’s NBL minor premiership hopes are back on track after an 89-84 win against defending champions Tasmania at the Sandpit on Tuesday night.
The competition leaders were coming off back-to-back losses against South-East Melbourne Phoenix and Cairns Tapians, which prompted coach Justin Tatum to query if they were serious about achieving anything at the business end of this season.
They answered that in emphatic fashion with their second win this season against the defending title-holders.
The result kept the Hawks on top of the table with a handy buffer ahead of Sydney Kings and Melbourne United.
The Jackjumpers, who had won eight of their previous nine games, remain in sixth position and are still in contention to potentially defend their title.
To do so, they have to figure out how to beat the Hawks, who have won both clashes between the two teams this season, albeit narrowly.
DOWN TO THE WIRE
The Jackjumpers certainly put up a fight.
A three-pointer from Sean McDonald in the dying seconds brought the visitors back within striking distance, only for Trey Kell III to seal the result from the free-throw line.
“That’s why the Jackjumpers won the championship last season ... they just keep fighting,” commentator Brad Rosen noted.
HANDY SIGNING
Journeyman Trey Kell III is proving an inspired signing for Illawarra.
The American import again led the way with 19 points and seven rebounds, receiving admirable support from skipper Tyler Harvey (18 points) and big man Sam Froling (17 points).
MILTON GOES MISSING
At the other end of the court, Tasmania’s Milton Doyle was not having his finest game.
The veteran American’s only contribution was one point from the free-throw line after nine unsuccessful field-goal shots.
CROWDED HOUSE
Another healthy attendance of 4551 reaffirmed the theory that the Hawks are the hottest ticket in the ‘Gong.
Phoenix down JackJumpers at home
by Ryan Rosendale
The resurgent South East Melbourne Phoenix have become the first team to defeat Tasmania at MyState Bank Arena this season, downing the reigning champs 105-91 on Sunday to also end the JackJumpers winning streak at eight matches.
In a top-six battle between two sides who have well and truly turned their early season form around, it was the Phoenix who responded from Thursday’s loss against Sydney with an impressive showing in Hobart.
The win was built off an early 7-0 run which caught Tasmania on the back foot, with a 10-point quarter time lead and 12-point three-quarter time advantage highlighting their dominance despite a second-quarter fightback from the home side.
That was led by Jordon Crawford (16 points and five assists), who exploded for 13 second-quarter points including a run of eight straight midway through the term that gave Tasmania the lead.
But a leaking roof halted that momentum late in the term, with play stopped for five minutes in the middle of a timeout while officials worked to find the cause.
Despite cutting the margin to seven at the long-break, the usually steady JackJumpers defence couldn’t contain South East in the second-half with the visitors outscoring Tasmania 49-42 after half-time.
Phoenix big man Jordan Hunter (17 points and eight rebounds) looked a class above in the absence of JackJumpers center Will Magnay while import duo Matt Hurt (20 points, six rebounds and three assists) and Derrick Walton Jr (16 points, six assists and two rebounds) were also influential.
Tasmania coach Scott Roth will be left ruing his side’s worst performance in over two months with the defending champions committing 16 turnovers and 25 fouls and the chance to jump to second on the ladder if they’d secured another win.
They’ll look to respond against first-place Illawarra on Tuesday night on the road while South East Melbourne will face Brisbane on Saturday.
HOT & COLD CRAWFORD
While his switch from starting five to impact bench player had so far reaped the ultimate rewards for Tasmania, Sunday’s game showed both the best and worst of the American import.
The best was a dominating second-quarter display where he dropped 13 points to get the JackJumpers back into the game, but the worst far outshined that display.
Crawford ended the first-quarter with zero points and again couldn’t find the bucket in the third term before managing to add another three in the final quarter amid the Phoenix’s dominance.
SOUTH CONTINUE OFFENSIVE DOMINANCE
Despite coming up against the competition’s best defense, Josh King’s side somehow managed to keep its impressive offensive streak intact.
The Phoenix once again put up triple figures on Sunday, with 101 points the sixth consecutive game they’ve posted a score of 100-plus.
It’s a strong sign of their resurgence under King with South now just the second team this season to score over 100 points against Tasmania.
Cotton fires Wildcats to win over Breakers
Another inspiring performance from Bryce Cotton has moved the Perth Wildcats closer to the squeeze at the top of the NBL ladder after victory over the New Zealand Breakers.
The star guard finished with 41 points, including 16 in the final quarter, as the Wildcats ran out 96-86 winners on Sunday afternoon at Spark Arena.
Cotton’s ability to get to the free throw line proved pivotal in the contest as he shot 12-16 from the charity stripe.
“There’s not a player in the game who can guard this man,” NBL champion Damon Lowery said in commentary.
Cotton’s performance continued a remarkable season for the 32-year-old who registered his fifth 40-point game.
The Wildcats win also continued a run of recent dominance against the Breakers, having won 10 of the last 13 meetings between the two teams.
“No one would have thought, given up what we’ve seen the last 10-15 years, we’d see someone racking up five or six 40-point games (in a season),” Australian basketball legend Andrew Gaze said in commentary.
New Zealand’s equal-leading scorer Matthew Mooney was controversially fouled out with just under five minutes remaining in what Gaze dubbed a “game changing moment” when the Wildcats led by just one.
The Breakers lost their offensive rhythm after the call, scoring just one more field goal with 53 seconds remaining.
Mooney and big man Taco Fall both finished with 28 points for the hosts.
Bullets outlasted by Sydney NBL heavyweights
The Brisbane Bullets hoodoo against NBL heavyweights Sydney Kings continued on Saturday night when they were outlasted 91-86 in a thriller at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.
The Kings have now won 10 of the last 11 games between the two. They have won the last five in Brisbane and are 24-8 against the Bullets since they re-entered the league in 2016.
The Bullets, with Casey Prather the spearhead, fought hard into the final frame and when Sydney stretched their lead out to 86-79 with 2:30 remaining, the Bullets clawed back to make it 88-86 with just under 20 seconds to play.
Hearts were in hands as spectators crept forward on their seats in anticipation of a big shot or defensive play.
There were battles unfolding on all corners of the court. Glass cleaner Tyrell Harrison flexed his muscles down low (12pts, 14 rbs), Bullets forward Josh Bannan and Kings young gun gun Alex Toohey each showed glimpses of their NBA pedigree and scoring phenoms Casey Prather (18 pts) and Jaylen Adams (21 points) were mesmerising at times for Brisbane and Sydney respectively.
TOOHEY IN THE CLUTCH
Sydney Next Star Alex Toohey drained the most important free throws of his fledgling career to get his side home, away from home.
After missing both attempts at the line earlier, Toohey swished a pair to move Sydney ahead 90-86 after Brisbane had a sniff trailing 88-86. He decided the game with less than 20 seconds on the clock.
The Kings then caused a stop at the other end to consolidate top spot on the NBL ladder alongside the Hawks. For the seventh seed Bullets, it was a loss they can barely afford with just eight games left to grapple a playoff berth.
NORTO THE NUISANCE
Basketball fans at the BEC got their money’s worth before the first timeout was called after Mitch Norton gave the Bullets’ media team one of the top highlights of the season to play around with online.
Five minutes in, Brisbane captain Norton dropped Shaun Bruce with a three-point pump fake he sold perfectly in the corner.
Before Bruce could get back on his feet after falling for the bait, Norton had already dished off a crisp interior pass to big man Tyrell Harrison who flushed it home emphatically with two hands.
The BEC was humming. And it stayed electric as the match to-and-froed.
Earlier, Josh Adams found the bottom of the net with his first three point attempt in his new colours.
WHO’S GUARDING ADAMS?
While Sydney had valuable contributions by Alex Toohey (13pts) and Xavier Cooks (19pts), their most potent was of course Jayden Adams, the form player of the NBL right now.
Adams walked through the teeth of the Bullets defence like it was nothing and so often he got what he pleased. It was a similar case for Casey Prather early on when he sunk a handful of first quarter threes.
On two occasions Adams was the reason for a Justin Schueller headache.
After a contested three made by Prather, Adams scooted downcourt and scored a lay up with ease.
Before this, after an absurd Keandre Cook dime to Josh Bannan, Adams went the distance to score through contact.
It was too easy.
“One of the problems I felt was in transition, they let him get too free, too loose,” NBL great Derek Rucker said in commentary.
ADAMS PASSES FIRST-GAME EXAM
He didn’t quite light up the arena like injured-import James Batemon did when he erupted for 52 points earlier this season. But, in a small yet telling sample size, it was clear why the Bullets went after Josh Adams as their injury replacement player (Batemon out with high-grade hamstring tear).
Adams laced in three triples in a solid debut and there were no apparent growing pains, despite from the opportunity cost of Isaac White’s minutes.
White played just five minutes after being a staple off the bench across the season.
During his 17 minutes on the floor, Adams was a calm and collected customer who, like Batemon, could get his own bucket and also find the open man after drawing attention from multiple defenders.
36ers thrive in awaited rematch
Melbourne United’s Shea Ili has been relentless booed in the club’s loss to the Adelaide 36rs in the first NBL clash between the rivals since fiery scenes ended with two players being suspended.
Kendric Davis and Montrezl Harrell starred for Adelaide in the 75-62 round 15 emotionally-charged win on Saturday.
In the first meeting between the rivals since the wild scenes that saw Davis and Harrell cop suspensions, Adelaide led at every change in front of a record sellout crowd at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre to brighten its finals outlook with a second win in succession.
Davis continued his MVP-calibre season with 28 points and 11 assists, with Harrell draining an equal game-high 28 to go with his nine rebounds.
It was second-placed United against the eighth-ranked 36ers, but the home side had all the answers in the pulsating affair, Mike Wells’ side switched on defensively to improve to a 9-11 record, while United slipped to 13-9 after coach Dean Vickerman’s 350th NBL game.
Rob Loe and Ili were the main protagonists in the push-and-shove at John Cain Arena in November, but Sixers’ fans targeted Ili almost exclusively throughout.
Ili responded with 14 points, but one of the biggest cheers of the night came when he fouled out 30 seconds into the final term.
Chris Goulding was well-guarded by Lat Mayen, finishing with a team-high 18 points, with Matthew Dellavedova on 10.
After conceding the first five points of the game, Adelaide went on a stirring 19-5 run, United turning the ball over seven times and Davis leading the charge with 13 points as the home side bounded away to a 27-17 lead at the first break.
The focused Sixers didn’t give up the lead for the rest of the game.
ILI THE VILLAIN
Loe’s tangle with Harrell sparked the melee in Melbourne, but Ili helped escalate the situation and Sixers’ fans clearly decided he was public enemy No.1.
The enmity between the rivals appeared set to boil over into another physical altercation in the first quarter when Ili crashed to the pine after he was fouled hard.
Harrell stepped over the guard’s head and he took exception, shoving Harrell’s legs.
With the crowd at fever pitch, Harrell thetrically walked away with his hands held straight above his head, not willing to have any role in igniting another powder keg.
SUMMER SHOOTOUT
The clash was the first fixture of the Summer Shootout, the NBL’s new concept where each club nominates one away game in January where it believes it will score the most points.
The team that records the highest score across the 10 Summer Shootout games will be awarded $50,000.
As if this clash needed any more spice, United tabbed its trip to the Adelaide Entertainment Centre as the game where it could run up a big score against its rivals.
It was probably a fair shout given United dropped 106 and 113 points on Adelaide in 20 and 27-point thumpings this season, but an anaemic 81 points isn’t going to see United snare that prize.
Upset of the season as last beats first in dramatic boilover
- Sean Teuma
Last-placed Cairns Taipans have produced the boilover of the NBL season by knocking off ladder leaders Illawarra Hawks 108-105 in Wollongong on Friday night.
The shock result ended a 15-game losing streak for the Taipans.
Rattled on New Year’s Eve when their six-game winning run ended at the hands of South-East Melbourne Phoenix, the Hawks were expected to bounce back to their best.
They again started tardily, allowing the cellar dwellers to draw first blood and race to an early 8-2 lead.
But the home team soon found their groove, leading 24-19 at quarter-time and 56-45 at the main break.
But Cairns fought back to lead 85-77 after the third quarter and wrapped up the points during a roller-coaster final period.
BOTTOM’S UP
It’s been a long, tough season for Cairns, but they certainly haven’t thrown in the towel.
Bravely they went on an 11-0 run midway through the second quarter to briefly grab the lead.
They then strung together another fightback in the third quarter to assume an unlikely eight-point advantage heading into the final term.
Cairns’ losing streak, incidentally, was a long way from the worst in NBL history.
The now-defunct Geelong franchise lost 26 consecutive games in 1988.
SHOOTING STAR
The hero for Cairns was shooting guard Rob Edwards, who delivered 28 points, including three successful shots from the field - one of which locked scores up at 105-apiece in the dying seconds.
Taran Armstrong also pitched in with 28 points for the visitors, while skipper Tyler Harvey led the way with 23 points for the home team.
Feast your eyes on one of the most amazing finishes to a game you will EVER SEE 🔥😱
— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) January 3, 2025
The last-placed Taipans take down the first-placed Hawks in an ASTONISHING upset!!#NBLpic.twitter.com/7SHFmIhDFx
FOULED OUT
The Taipans suffered a late setback when big man Tanner Groves fouled out.
Groves is no stranger to the naughty corner. It was his sixth foul-out of the season.
Illawarra were left ruing a foul from Hyunjung Lee that allowed Armstrong to break the deadlock from the free-throw line.
TREY ON TARGET
After stints with South-East Melbourne and Adelaide 36ers, American import Trey Kell III is rapidly making himself at home in the ‘Gong.
He was a dominant presence in the first half, posting 16 points and five rebounds. He finished with 23 points for the game.
FORMER MVP EXPLODES IN SECOND HALF TO HELPS KINGS SNAP LOSING STREAK
—Sean Teuma
A second half explosion from Jaylen Adams has lifted the Kings to a monumental home comeback to snap their losing run.
The former MVP went 0-6 from the field in the first half before coming to life when it counted as Sydney came from as many as 18 points down in the third quarter to knock off the resurgent SEM Phoenix 110-101.
Staring down the barrel of a third-straight loss on their home court, Sydney overturned a 13-point deficit coming into the fourth quarter after Adams went ballistic.
He had 29 points in the second half including 21 in the fourth to lead the Kings to a much-needed victory.
The highlight came as the Kings raced out to an eight-point lead with two minutes to play after Adams lobbed up a pass for Alex Toohey who slammed it home over the top of Derrick Walton Jr.
The win keeps the Kings in fourth spot, while putting a halt to SEM’s three wins in succession.
SPACE CAM HAS LIFTOFF
After being embarrassed in the first quarter by Adelaide and without starting big Keli Leaupepe with a hamstring injury, a line was put in the sand by coach Brian Goorjian to start Cam Oliver.
The import has averaged just 20 minutes per game this season, including less than 10 minutes in a scoreless outing against the 36ers on Monday.
Oliver repaid the faith with a hot start, scoring nine points (4-4 FG) in the opening term, including finishing a monster alley-oop that had the 9139 faithful at Qudos Bank Arena on their feet.
ADAMS COOLS OFF
After dropping a career-high 41 points just three nights ago, Adams didn’t have the same touch in the first half.
He went 0-6 from the field to open the game, including missing all five attempts in the second quarter as the Kings went cold and the Phoenix took full advantage to lead 60-47 at the main break.
Nine points in the third from the former MVP helped the Kings stay in touch coming into the last term after trailing by as much as 19.
WALTON’S BIG RETURN
In his first game back at Qudos Bank Arena since winning a championship with the Kings, Walton Jr showed he can still ball out in his former home.
The Phoenix import hit his first four shots from long range, skipping down the court after draining his fourth to give his side an 18-point lead.
He had 22 points and was the best for the visitors in the loss.
BLINK AND YOU’LL MISS IT
Phoenix coach Josh King wasted no time in trying to prove the referees wrong.
He opted for a coach’s challenge after just two minutes of play after Matt Hurt was ruled to have committed a foul.
It was a bizarre decision, not only for how early in the game it was, but the fact it was deemed a shooting foul on Xavier Cooks, a streaky free throw shooter at best.
The challenge could’ve come in handy in the second quarter when Walton Jr was hit with his third foul of the night after minimal contact on Adams.
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