Support cast shine as Bullets hammer Breakers

The Brisbane Bullets have been accused of being a two-man band at times this season but they defied that to comprehensively beat the New Zealand Breakers 88-67 despite off nights from their two stars.

Import Vic Law and Boomers hopeful Nathan Sobey have been electric this season but were dulled at Nissan Arena on Saturday night which allowed new starter Harry Froling to run riot in a much-needed victory to keep pace with the #NBL21 top four.

There were reports of illness sweeping through the Bullets camp during the week with images surfacing on social media of assistant coaches stepping in to make up numbers at scrimmages.

The Bullets put their full roster on the floor aside from the now departed Orlando Johnson and his replacement Lamar Patterson, but abandoned their run-and-gun style that reaped so many rewards at the NBL Cup.

Perhaps in a bid to conserve energy from their depleted players, the Bullets decided to settle into a grind and set that tempo well, always keeping the Breakers at arm's reach without the need to push to a gear that illness might have robbed them of.

With Law turning in a Barry Crocker (seven points on 2/14 shooting) it was up to the supporting cast to provide the show stoppers. Enter man-giant Froling who was handed a starting sport and reaped rewards with 20 points, four rebounds and two assists.

Nathan Sobey also appeared to suffer a hand injury in the second quarter which limited his impact to 12 points which made the win even sweeter for the Bullets with Anthony Drmic (16 points) and Matt Hodgson (16 points, 10 rebounds) contributing strongly.

Bullets coach Andrej Lemanis said that Law and Sobey had both been sent for COVID-19 tests which thankfully came back negative, but Sobey especially was touch-and-go for the match because of hydration issues. 

"We missed quite a bit of practice but all the COVID tests came back negatively. We had to manage some bodies through it and they gave us the energy required to get us over the line."

The last time the two sides met the Breakers ambushed the Bullets and Lemanis praised his roster - and Froling - for ensuring that did not happen again.

"The last time we were chasing our tail against an aggressive, big defensive team ... we were playing on the back foot and this time we were more prepared for that," Lemanis said.

"Harry came in and dealt with it very well. We have confidence in this team that we do run as a team. Any given night different people can step up and contribute to the group."

The Breakers somehow stayed with the Bullets for the first half before being destroyed in the second half, surrendering offensive rebounds and turning the ball over times ensuring they were never really in the contest. 

Tai Webster was the leading scorer with 19 points while Finn Delaney toiled hard for his 12 points and nine rebounds but New Zealand will be keen to see reinforcements arrive soon having signed William McDowell-White and Levi Randolph.

Breakers coach Dan Shamir said it was a waiting game until star guard Corey Webster returns from injury and replacements arrive in the import positions but they need to be better to compete until that happens.

"It was a tough night for us," he said.

"There is the short term and the longer term. In the short term, we have Melbourne United so they have to be better (to compete against them). 

"In the longer term, we've got to survive a few games and hopefully, players will come in, Corey is coming back in the next few weeks so that will add a bit more of an aspect to our game."

While all the Bullets players suited up, there was a change to the starting side with Harry Froling getting an opportunity in the absence of departed import Orlando Johnson. He was effective early as well, with a three-point play which helped the home side march out to a six-point lead.

The Bullets were controlling proceedings but points were at a premium as both sides struggled to find their range and the Breakers were able to graft their way back into the match through Colton Iverson and Tai Webster who pushed their side's noses in front.

Luck was not favouring the home side with a multitude of baskets rolling around the rim and spitting out and this was underlined when Vic Law missed a dunk with a clean line to the basket and limped off the court to be assessed to rub salt into the wounds. 

The Breakers had the chance to steal the lead at the first break, but it was the Bullets with a slender 21-19 lead but with work to do.

Law returned, but a collision with Sobey sent shockwaves through the Bullets camp as the Boomers hopeful left the court grimacing in pain and holding his shooting hand. The Breakers were bleeding offensive rebounds and turnovers though which helped the home side open up a five-point lead.

Sobey came back but so too did the Breakers and a Daniel Trist bucket with the ensuing foul shot pushed them back in front in the shadows of half-time. But a triple from Anthony Drmic followed by a last gasp prayer from Froling that came down with snow on it handed the Bullets a 44-39 half-time time advantage.

As the Breakers continued to haemorrhage offensive rebounds and struggled at 23 per cent from the three-point line from a lot of good looks the Bullets extended that lead to double digits. By three quarter-time the lead was 18 and the Breakers were buried.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 10

BRISBANE BULLETS 88 (Froling 20, Hodgson 16, Drmic 16)

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 67 (T Webster 19, Delany 12, Iverson 9) 

BOX SCORE