The Brisbane Bullets made a spirited return to the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, falling 91-82 to the Sydney Kings in their NBL25 home opener. In front of a record crowd, the Bullets showed resilience by scoring the final 16 points of the game, showcasing the tenacity fans have come to expect.
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Prather leads early spark
Casey Prather set the tone early, firing up the crowd with an electrifying one-handed slam to open the score for the home team. Despite his energy, the Bullets faced a tough first half, trailing by as much as 20 points before mounting a comeback.
Prather finished with an efficient 17 points on 8-for-15 shooting, adding five rebounds and three steals. Rising star Rocco Zikarsky continued to impress, contributing 11 points and five rebounds, and hitting his first career three-pointer in a milestone moment.
Zikarsky’s three-pointer was one of only three makes from 23 attempts for the Bullets, who struggled to find their groove from beyond the arc all night. Despite a resilient second half effort, the team’s shooting woes ultimately hindered their comeback.
Centre Tyrell Harrison filled the stat sheet, contributing 10 points, five assists, four rebounds, three blocks, and two steals. The team’s leading scorer, Keandre Cook, supported with 12 points, while floor general James Batemon came close to a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds.
Early game woes continue
Despite the Kings taking the win, the Bullets’ fourth-quarter performance underscored their potential. Matching Sydney in the third and dominating the fourth, Brisbane showed they could compete with one of the league’s top teams. However, another slow start—which has been a pattern in their first three games of the season—proved costly.
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The Bullets now turn their focus to a road game against the also winless South East Melbourne Phoenix, where they’ll face former captain Nathan Sobey. Fans are eager to see if Brisbane can finally transform their impressive fourth-quarter performances into a consistent effort across all quarters.
Published 06-October-2024
Match preview published on 01-October-2024.
Bullets vs Kings: Brisbane Seek First Win in Home Opener Against Sydney
The Brisbane Bullets are set to open their season with their long-awaited return to the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Saturday, October 5, against the Sydney Kings in a crucial matchup as both teams look to rebound from early-season setbacks. Bullets vs Kings tip off 8:00 p.m.
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Bullets’ slow start
After a promising preseason that saw them win the NBL Blitz and emerge as second-favourites in bookmakers’ predictions, the Bullets find themselves in an unexpected 0-2 hole to start NBL25.
Their season opener against the New Zealand Breakers ended in a narrow 91-87 defeat, despite a late surge that saw them erase a 26-point deficit. The following game against the Illawarra Hawks resulted in a 113-101 loss, again highlighting the team’s struggle with slow starts.
Keandre Cook has been a standout for the Bullets, leading the team in scoring in both games. His sharpshooting, particularly from beyond the arc, has been crucial in Brisbane’s comeback attempts.
Amidst the challenging start, the Bullets received a boost with Tyrell Harrison’s contract extension. The longest-serving player on the roster, the big man’s development and Blitz performances underscore his importance to the team’s long-term plans. His interior presence provides stability as the Bullets work to turn their season around.
Bullets vs Kings
The Bullets enter the home opener with some injury worries. Sam McDaniel and Josh Bannan are sidelined, while captain Mitch Norton and Deng Adel are battling groin issues. These health issues have added to the challenge of finding the team’s rhythm in the early season.
The Sydney Kings arrive in Brisbane also seeking to right their ship. They suffered their first loss of NBL25 in their previous outing, falling to Illawarra 96-89 in a closely contested match. Sydney will be eager to avoid a losing streak, setting the stage for an intense battle at the BEC.
Bullets coach Justin Schueller acknowledges the team’s disappointing start but sees signs of improvement. “There’s a lot of pride in the way that we’ve responded twice now to say that we’re right there,” Schueller states.
However, he emphasises the need for better starts and improved defence, noting that the team’s current performance doesn’t reflect their true potential.
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The clash against the Sydney Kings represents more than just a home opener for the Brisbane Bullets. It’s an opportunity to reset their season, energise their fan base, and demonstrate the potential that has made them a team to watch in NBL25—all in their first game back at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.
