Bullets impress in snapping losing run to Kings

The Brisbane Bullets unveiled three-time NBL champion Casey Prather but Nathan Sobey led a strong all-round contribution for drought breaking 101-93 road win against the Sydney Kings.

The Bullets had lost seven straight against the Kings and the last 10 inside Qudos Bank Arena dating back to 2017, but they kept the crowd of 13,078 quiet for most of the afternoon in an impressive showing to hand Sydney a fourth defeat in the last five home games.

After trailing by a point at quarter-time, Brisbane took over the contest with 29 points to 15 in the second quarter to go into half-time leading 52-39.

While both teams shot virtually the same from the floor, Brisbane went 5-of-10 from downtown and 13-of-15 at the foul line with just three turnovers to the Kings who were 1-of-10, 4-of-5 and turned it over eight times.

Sam McDaniel (10 points), Shannon Scott (six points, four assists), Prather, Sobey, Isaac White (12 points) and Josh Bannan (13 points, nine boards) all made three-pointers to keep Brisbane on top in the third quarter.

The Bullets lead got out to as much as 18 points and while the Kings did make a run in the fourth to get as close to four, Brisbane closed it out to snap the run out of outs to Sydney and improve to 9-11.

Sobey once again led the way for Brisbane with 27 points while Prather made his Bullets debut with almost 11 minutes for eight points while Olympian and NBA champion Aron Baynes had a crucial eight points in his 20 minutes.

Next Star Rocco Zikarsky had an impressive cameo for 10 and-a-half minutes too for six points and four blocks.

Bullets coach Justin Schueller is happy with the improvement in his team to now sit in sixth spot.

"This is what we need to do, we've been talking about possession by possessions, and winning habits and we knew they'd keep challenging us," he said.

"I thought every time it happened we just stayed the course and every game right now is playoff type vibes so for us to go through this, it's an important piece for us to deal with to move forward from here.

It's a double loss weekend for the Kings after losing to Melbourne United on Thursday as they slip to 10-10 with their three-peat quest hanging by a thread.

Former MVP Jaylen Adams had 21 points and eight assists with Jordan Hunter hitting two threes on his way to 17 points and 10 rebounds. Kouat Noi contributed 13 points and seven rebounds.

Coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah is asking for his playing to now rise to the challenge with eight games to go.

"I told the guys they have a great opportunity ahead with eight games left in the season, but some things have got to change," he said.

"Unless we understand that it takes 40 minutes and you can't take possessions off, we won't be successful."

"We've got two months so whatever the guys want to do, they have to put whatever it is behind them, they have to sacrifice and years from now this will be talked about whatever we do.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 14

SYDNEY KINGS 93 (Adams 21, Hunter 17, Noi 13)
BRISBANE BULLETS 101 (Sobey 27, Bannan 13, White 12)

BOX SCORE