IN a mesmerising start to Round 15 of the 2023/24 NBL season, the Brisbane Bullets snagged an important win, defeating the Tasmania JackJumpers by three points at Nissan Arena on Wednesday night.

After struggling down the stretch for much of the season, the Bullets delivered when it counted most in the round’s opening match, with star import Chris Smith nailing a clutch three-pointer down in the dying stages.

Although it came into the game riding the momentum of an impressive win over the reigning champions, Brisbane was considered the underdog in this matchup, given Tasmania’s current top-two aspirations. However, this result puts the Bullets in a much better position moving forward in the race for a play-in spot with just five rounds remaining.

Brisbane Bullets (80) def. Tasmania JackJumpers (77)

Coming into the game, it needed to be an almighty performance from the home side, given the team’s best player and captain in Nathan Sobey was absent with a foot injury.

However, the opening term showed that Brisbane was up for the fight, leading by a point at the first change despite the JackJumpers being a typically fast-starting team. It was an indicator that the Bullets still had the firepower on both ends of the court to cause a boilover.

The close nature of the contest continued into the second term, although the Bullets started to get ascendancy. Brisbane shut down some of Tasmania’s stars and forced the team into some heavily contested shots. The home side led by five at the main break, but given how tight the game had been to that point, it was a margin which held weight.

The third quarter saw the tempo of the match slow right down, largely due to both teams committing more fouls than they would have liked. Much of the period was spent at the charity stripe, with neither side truly getting on a roll. Despite the slower nature of the game, the JackJumpers were able to whittle the margin down to two points heading into the last, mainly on the back of Milton Doyle, who got going after a quiet start to the game.

The fourth quarter had plenty of ebbs and flows, as the JackJumpers looked to deliver a signature last-quarter win. Although Tasmania had its chances, Brisbane had other ideas, and it was a match-winning run that was sparked by a Josh Bannan intercept and slam to give the Bullets a two-point lead with just over 20 seconds remaining.

Tassie guard Jordan Crawford answered with a floater down the other end, and the match looked likely to head to overtime. With the game on the line, Smith was entrusted with the final shot. Scores were tied in the final five seconds of the match, and the forward put up a deep, contested three-pointer that was all net, giving the Bullets a three-point lead with just a second on the clock. Some strong defence ensured Tasmania did not get off a good look, and Brisbane’s win was secure.

Smith was not only the hero, but also the leading scorer for the Bullets, finishing the match with 19 points on 6/15 shooting from the field, including the most important basket of the game. For the JackJumpers, Doyle ended the contest with an equal game-high 19 points as he continues his return to form.