Gutsy Bullets push United to the brink

Lamar Patterson and Mitch Norton combined for 27 fourth quarter points as the undermanned Brisbane Bullets sent an almighty scare into Melbourne United before the home team prevailed 99-93.

The Bullets lost on the Gold Coast by 29 points to the New Zealand Breakers on Wednesday night where they lost superstar forward Casey Prather for the rest of NBL26 with a knee injury.

Added to that and they parted ways with Jaylen Adams before leaving for Melbourne so they were right up against it taking on the league-leaders at John Cain Arena on Saturday.

However, the Bullets started well to be up 19-7 after the opening five minutes and then even with Melbourne opening up a 21-point advantage, Brisbane fired back.

The Bullets put up 39 points in the fourth quarter with 27 of those points courtesy of their two most seasoned campaigners, Patterson and Norton, to get back within three before Melbourne held on to win by six.

United dominated the middle stages and led by 21 points before the margin was slashed to three with 1:07 left.

Norton and Patterson both landed huge three-point buckets in the dying stages as the Bullets nailed seven triples in the final quarter alone.

But Melbourne overcame the stunning late challenge when Shea Ili and star man Milton Doyle stood up at the free-throw line.

Melbourne improved to 11-2 in top spot with Doyle having his best performance of the season with 28 points, six rebounds and four assists on 11/18 shooting.

Jesse Edwards also had 14 points and three rebounds, Tyson Walker 12 points and two assists, and Chris Goulding 13 points and five rebounds.

Ili (10 points, four assists) made a successful return from a serious hamstring injury, while Next Star Dash Daniels had six points and two rebounds in 12 minutes on court.

Norton finished with a season-best 19 points, two rebounds and two assists for Brisbane while replacement import Patterson had 18 points and three assists on 4/7 three-point shooting.

Tyrell Harrison also ended up with 16 points, 11 rebounds and three assists, Dakota Mathias 11 points and seven rebounds, and Taine Murray nine points and three assists with some terrific defence on Goulding.

Brisbane had been struggling starting in recent times but it began on the other foot, when Harrison's influential start and two of Mathias' three first-quarter triples put the Bullets up 19-7 midway through the opening period.

United tightened the screws and went on a 17-3 run to tie the scores at quarter-time.

Everything became a little too easy for the home team, who were led by Doyle's 17 first-half points as they built a 47-38 advantage by the main break.

Melbourne were 18/20 from the foul line to Brisbane's 4/7 at that point, with Harrison the only Bullet to reach the stripe.

It was more of the same in the third period as United continued to strangle their opponents, until Patterson helped drag Brisbane back into the contest late.

The Bullets were a live chance but Melbourne's game management and ice-cool hands from the free-throw line saw them home.

Melbourne are now back on the road for another Championship Series rematch in Wollongong against the Illawarra Hawks on Friday night while Brisbane are back home on Thursday to host the South East Melbourne Phoenix.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26

MELBOURNE UNITED 99 (Doyle 28, Edwards 14, Goulding 13)

BRISBANE BULLETS 93 (Norton 19, Patterson 18, Harrison 16)

BOX SCORE