Smith hits match-winner as Bullets pip JackJumpers

Chris Smith delivered the game-winning shot for the Brisbane Bullets hitting a three-pointer with a second to go to shoot his team up into fifth position in a thrilling finish beating the Tasmania JackJumpers 80-77.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">THE SHOT TO WIN IT ?<br><br>CHRIS SMITH IS HIM ?<br><br>Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL24?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL24</a> live on ESPN via Kayo ? <a href="https://t.co/ifAornwf1V">pic.twitter.com/ifAornwf1V</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1745039376013504531?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


Making the win all the most impressive for the Bullets was that it came without in-form captain Nathan Sobey. The Olympian has averaged 27.5 points over the past five games, but the Bullets had to do without him at Nissan Arena on Wednesday after he suffered a foot injury in Sunday's win in Sydney.

Brisbane needed others to step up and Smith returned to the line-up after missing the win against the Kings. He not only top-scored for the Bullets with 19 points but stepped up when it mattered most.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jack McVeigh is HUSTLING ?<br><br>Catch the action live on ESPN via Kayo ? <a href="https://t.co/ets9mawmeu">pic.twitter.com/ets9mawmeu</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1745023094756888916?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

It was quite the dramatic fourth quarter of a contest that had been a bit of a grind up until that point.

Brisbane had led by eight during the third period, but that margin was back to two at three quarter-time before Bullets centre Tyrell Harrison banked in the first three-pointer of his 107-game career to open up the final quarter.

The Bullets would again be leading by eight with five minutes to play when new signing and three-time championship winner Casey Prather scored his only points of the game in his second game for Brisbane after a two and-a-half year layoff with knee injuries.

Tasmania kept on coming, though, and by the time Milton Doyle knocked down a three-pointer, scores were all square at 75-75 with just over a minute to play.

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Out of a timeout, Brisbane threw a trap on defence to JackJumpers playmaker Doyle. That forced him to give the ball up over the pressure and his pass was wayward and picked off by Bullets rookie Josh Bannan. He raced up the other end to throw down the dunk to give his team the two-point lead again with 21 seconds remaining.

Jordon Crawford was then fearless for Tasmania and went inside and got a shot off over Harrison that banked in to level scores up once more with 12 seconds on the clock.

Coming out of a timeout and the Bullets wanted the ball in the hands of Chris Smith. For good reason too and the JackJumpers elected to not foul him despite having two to give late in the game, and Smith was left isolated with former Brisbane guard Anthony Drmic.

He ran down the clock, raised up to shoot the three that was nothing but net and the Bullets were back up three, and claimed the win by that margin when Jack McVeigh's rushed attempt up the other was no good.

Brisbane has now won three straight to sit fifth at 10-11 and along with Smith's 19 points, Harrison contributed 13 points and seven rebounds, Sam McDaniel 12 points and seven boards, and Bannan 12 points and seven rebounds.

The JackJumpers are now 11-10 ahead of hosting the in-form Illawarra Hawks on Friday having lost three of the last four, and five of the past seven.

Doyle had 19 points and Crawford 13 while McVeigh put up 17 and big man Will Magnay contributed 11 points and five rebounds.

Tom Vodanovich also made his debut for the JackJumpers after being signed to replace Junior Madut. He did have four fouls in five minutes, but showed glimpses of the toughness he will provide with Tasmania plus-five in his time on the court.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 15

BRISBANE BULLETS 80 (Smith 19, Harrison 13, Bannan 12, McDaniel 12)

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 77 (Doyle 19, McVeigh 17, Crawford 13)

BOX SCORE