Sobey fires, Law finishes for Bullets in OT

The Cairns Taipans put themselves in position to respond how they hoped but Nathan Sobey just wouldn’t be denied before Vic Law put the finish on a 105-103 overtime win for the Brisbane Bullets.

The battle of the Queensland rivals turned into quite the spectacle in front of 4065 fans at Nissan Arena on Saturday, and the Bullets and Taipans couldn’t be separated in the regulation 40 minutes.

Cairns was playing its first road game of the season and started impressively attempting to stop a four-game losing slide. Majok Deng was on fire early with three long balls before Cam Oliver took over with 18 points and six rebounds in the first half.

The Snakes led by a game high 15 points at half-time on the back of shooting 54 per cent and going 8/17 from deep on top of dominating the boards, but the Bullets were never going to die wondering with Sobey and Law in the line-up.

Sobey proved the man for the Bullets. He had 12 points in the fourth quarter and then his team's first eight in overtime as he played like a man possessed. 

He then found Law for a flush, got Jason Cadee a look to hit one from way downtown and then when Scott Machado refused to let the Taipans go away, it was Law's turn to finish.

With the Taipans having lost Oliver and Deng late in regulation with five fouls after they had combined for 36 points and 14 rebounds, Machado and Jarrod Kenny hit two huge threes apiece to keep the Snakes in it.

So scores were tied with six seconds left and Law was left isolated, was able to use his quick first step and then got right to the rack and he threw down the game winner as time expired.

The Bullets have now won two straight and are building something on the back of the remarkable partnership of Sobey and Law while the Taipans now return home feeling they no doubt missed a chance of avoiding that fifth straight defeat.

Sobey and Law in the win for the Bullets on Tuesday became the first pair to score at least 25 points each in the same game this season, and they backed it up and bettered that on Saturday.

Sobey finished with 30 points and five assists while Law had 27 points and 11 rebounds. The Bullets could ride that duo a long way in #NBL21.

Law was understandably happy after making the game winner post-match.

"I'm just happy that Dre trusted me with the ball when Sobey had it going and Jase had just made that huge three so we definitely had options," Law said. 

"It's a credit to him and my teammates for making a play, and I was just waiting for that moment. As a kid everyone wants to make that shot and I'm just happy that I was able to make it."

Cadee added 11 points, five rebounds and four assists, Tyrell Harrison eight points and six boards, and Harry Froling eight points in just 10 minutes.

Oliver (21 points, eight rebounds) and Deng (15 points, six boards) had big nights for the Taipans before fouling out, but Machado was their superstar who gave them a chance still with 23 points, 10 assists and five rebounds including going 4/9 from the land of plenty.

Mirko Djeric added 11 points, six rebounds and six assists for the Snakes, Kouat Noi 11 points, four rebounds and three assists, Kenny nine points, five rebounds and four assists, and Nate Jawai nine points and four boards. 

Taipans coach Mike Kelly saw plenty to like from the performance but ultimately coming away with a loss means there's always things needing to be improved upon.

"I thought we played a great first half and defended very well, and took care of the ball and made some shots," Kelly said.

"We shot the ball really well in the first half. In the second half they got free some and we turned the ball over a little bit, and I'm still processing it. I think you just take the goods and say let's keep going with that and improve on the things they exploited in the second half."

The Taipans came out hungry and with Majok Deng setting the tone with three triples early, Cam Oliver throwing down a reverse jam and Scott Machado running things, they had opened up a game high 15-point lead by half-time.

It was the Taipans everyone had been expecting to see this season and with their shot falling as a team and Oliver producing 18 points and six rebounds, it was going to take something special to stop them.

Jason Cadee threatened a Brisbane fightback with two threes to start the second half but by three quarter-time Cairns had responded to again lead by 11, and by 13 to start the fourth.

Then it became Nathan Sobey time. He hit two quick threes, made another bucket and then earned four free-throws against Mirko Djeric. That turned the tide the Bullets were able to live at the foul line the rest of the quarter.

Jarrod Kenny proved the hero hitting the game tying three for Cairns to force overtime and he backed it up to start the extra period.

But Sobey just wouldn’t be denied. He went on his own 6-0 run again before driving and finding Vic Law for a finish. He then set up Cadee for the go ahead three with 12 seconds left.

Machado responded in kind and scores were level with six seconds left and then it was Law who put the finishing touch on a memorable Bullets win.

The two teams do it all again in Cairns next Saturday night. Before that, the Bullets host Melbourne United on Thursday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 3

BRISBANE BULLETS 105 (Sobey 30, Law 29, Cadee 11) 

CAIRNS TAIPANS 103 (Machado 23, Oliver 21, Deng 15)

BOX SCORE