To The South: Success For Last Winless Team Among Powerful Performances

The NBL season moved into its fourth round and with it came plenty of high-scoring performances and eventful match-ups, in particular one in Far North Queensland, which seemed a done deal before the visiting team made for a fantastic finish.

Brisbane Bullets vs Melbourne United

Thanks to two last-minute plays from Tanner Krebs, Brisbane ended a close first quarter in front and led by six before Melbourne made it a much tighter game once again. Opening the fourth quarter with a triage of three-pointers and a late 6-0 run, Melbourne laid the ground work for a 9-2 run in the last two minutes to finish the game winners 109 to 96.

Nathan Sobey finished with 27 points for Brisbane, who also saw 20 from Victor Law in the loss. With six Melbourne players finishing in double-digits - 27 from Chris Goulding as well as Jock Londale's 20 points and 12 rebounds - Melbourne were able to keep their unbeaten record intact as the expense of the Bullets.

Cairns Taipans vs New Zealand Breakers

The Breakers opened the scoring and went five points in front after 2:30 played, Deng kept the scores tight for Cairns and Noi gave them a one-point lead four minutes later. The Kiwi team responded with nine unanswered points to end the first quarter, Cameron Oliver and Scott Machado then combined to put the Taipans into the lead, which reached double digits by the third quarter.

Lamar Patterson began the New Zealand fight back with seven straight points for the team, later getting them to within three points down the stretch and a lay up from Delany made it a one-point game with two minutes to go. The teams fought for the slender lead before a Thomas Abercrombie dunk began a 6-0 run in the final shot clock, wherein the Breakers secured their first win of the season.

Machado led Cairns with 25 points and 12 assists in the loss, while Tai Webster had 25 of his own along with 11 rebounds and Patterson finished with 22 off the bench for the Breakers, who left the court victorious having downed the Taipans on their home court 85-79.

Adelaide 36ers vs Sydney Kings

Seven points in the last minute and a half saw Sydney end the first quarter ahead by three, the team then began the second with a trio of three-point shots to go ahead by double digits. Ten in a row from Adelaide tied the scores, but the Kings responded immediately from close range.

Continuing to dominate in the paint and consistent three-point shooting from Casper Ware and Dejan Vasiljevic, Sydney’s lead reached 20 points by the fourth quarter and the 36ers scrappy response only got them so far. Daniel Johnson led Adelaide with 21 points, while 27 from Ware, 23 from Jarrell Martin and fourteen three-pointers made propelled Sydney to a big victory over one of the league leaders. The final score was 94-75 in their favour.