Gutsy Bullets spoil Sixers' homecoming

Will Weaver has preached the identity he wants his Brisbane Bullets to play with and that was fully on show on Sunday when they upset the homecoming of the Adelaide 36ers with a standout all-round performance to win 96-89.

The Bullets arrived at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre having lost by 22 points at home to the Cairns Taipans on Thursday night and losing Lat Mayen and Max Mackinnon in the process.

That had them right up against it, with the 36ers returning home for the first time since October 7 and fresh off a confidence-boosting win on the road to the New Zealand Breakers on Friday.

But the Bullets came out strongly to open up a 13-point lead in the first quarter and not only were they executing well offensively with triple Olympian Raul Neto running the point, but they were playing strong and insightful defence, and doing well on the glass.

Brisbane were still leading 83-73 with just under six minutes to go when Tyrell Harrison fouled out after he had 24 points and 10 rebounds on 10/13 shooting in his 26 minutes.

But Adelaide couldn’t take advantage of that either and couldn’t get any closer than six with the Bullets having the answers for the gutsy win to improve to a 5-5 record.

Harrison was outstanding for Brisbane up to fouling out but he got plenty of help including Nate Hinton producing 18 points, seven rebounds, six assists and four steals.

Neto delivered 14 points and four assists with Taine Murray chiming in with 12 points and five assists on 4/12 three-point shooting, and Archie Woodhill landed three long balls in his nine points and three rebounds backing up Harrison.

The 36ers are now 5-6 with the loss on the night they were celebrating the 1986 Invincibles championship winning team with Bryce Cotton having another 27 points and nine assists on 9/25 shooting with 2/12 from deep.

Nick Rakocevic finished with 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists, Zylan Cheatham 17 points, nine assists and seven boards, and John Jenkins III 12 points and four rebounds on 2/9 three-point shooting.

The 36ers were back home for the first time in almost a month and celebrating the Invincibles with the Bullets short on bodies, but Will Weaver had his team ready to go and they opened up a 13-point lead late in the first quarter.

Brisbane were still leading 30-17 by quarter-time on the back of six points and two rebounds from Tyrell Harrison, and another six points on 2/3 three-point shooting from Taine Murray.

The Bullets were shooting 11/20 from the field opposed to 5/20 from the 36ers but then Adelaide hit the opening 11 points of the second frame to tighten things right up.

But the Bullets again responded to outscore the Sixers 20-15 for the rest of the half to still be on top 50-43 heading into half-time.

That was on the back of shooting 20/41 and 7/19 from deep opposed to 14/38 and 2/14 from the home team, but the 36ers did get to the foul line 20 times to four in the first half.

But Harrison was up to 12 points and five rebounds for Brisbane with Raul Neto adding nine points, and Nate Hinton eight points four assists, three rebounds and three steals.

Adelaide tried to make a run again in the third quarter and Bryce Cotton did add another eight points to up to 25 for the game, but the Bullets continued to have all the answers.

They added another 26 points to 23 to be leading still 76-66 at three quarter-time with Harrison up to 22 points and eight rebounds with Hinton having 13 points, six boards, four assists and three steals.

Harrison's big game ended with just under six minutes to go when he picked up his foul and the Bullets were still leading by 10 at that point.

Adelaide had a chance to take advantage but Zylan Cheatham blew a dunk that could have made it a single-figure game and from there, the Bullets continued to make the winning plays at both ends to go on to secure the impressive seven-point road win.

The Bullets are back home on Wednesday night for an Ignite Cup match up with the Perth Wildcats while the 36ers remain at home to face the Illawarra Hawks on Saturday night.

ADELAIDE 36ERS 89 – BRISBANE BULLETS 96

Adelaide 36ers
Bryce Cotton – 27 points, 9 assists, 2 steals
Nick Rakocevic – 19 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists
Zylan Cheatham – 17 points, 9 assists, 7 rebounds
John Jenkins III – 12 points, 4 rebounds
Keanu Rasmussen – 7 points

Brisbane Bullets
Tyrell Harrison – 24 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists
Nate Hinton – 18 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals
Raul Neto – 14 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds
Taine Murray – 12 points, 5 assists, 4/12 3PT
Archie Woodhill – 9 points, 3 rebounds, 3/6 3PT