AFTER producing a strong first half, the Brisbane Bullets were unable to hold off a relentless Sydney Kings side going down in New South Wales, 90-71, with the Queensland side lacking the star power needed thanks to numerous injuries within the side. The win for the hosts helped get their five-game home stint off on the right foot – cracking the top four too as a result.

Neither team really pulled away from the other for about the first six minutes trading buckets back and forth. However, a transition three-pointer from Shaun Bruce put the Kings up 18-11 and created the first separation of the meeting.

The Kings looked as if they were going to possess a dominant first quarter lead, but a three from Brisbane shooter Jason Cadee, Nathan Sobey and Tamuri Wigness helped the Bullets to a 23-22 lead at quarter time.

Adam Forde urged his side to step up before half-time as Sydney kept knocking at the door, but Brisbane refused to budge off the back of their captain’s efforts. Sobey accounted for a career-high total before the main break with 21 points and five rebounds, which was essential as he was without Vic Law, Lamar Patterson and Anthony Drmic – all main weapons for Andrej Lemanis that he did not have.

Thanks to Sobey’s effort, the Bullets led at half-time 42-40, but that still left plenty of time for the Kings to get their noses in front before the conclusion of yesterday’s opener. Again, it was the efforts of imports Jarell Martin and Casper Ware which were able to contribute in the first half that provided the Kings with extra confidence, as the duo combined for 17 points in the first half.

It took little over a minute for Sydney to knock down back-to-back-to-back buckets and instantly lead by four to start the second half. Spanning from Thomas Vodanovich’s field goal to finish the second quarter to Blake Jones’ jump shot three and a half minutes into the third, the Kings strung together 11-straight points to solidify a commanding third term lead going ahead by seven points following the run.

The third period was a success on two fronts for the Kings as they led 61-53 after 30 minutes of basketball. The first being that had now secured a decent lead after initially starting slow out of the blocks, particularly in the first half, winning the quarter 21-11. The second had been slowing the roll of Sobey, who was limited to just five points in the third.

As soon as the Kings had found out how to shut down Sobey, the fourth quarter was nothing more than a formality with the hosts running up their margin to double digits and beyond. To cap off what was a successful night to say the least for the Kings, eight consecutive points from Craig Moller put the icing on the cake as Sydney ended last night with the 19-point win.

Brisbane’s lack of accuracy was their main obstacle last night shooting just 32 per cent, converting 23 of their 71 attempts, but shot the three-ball at a decent 46 per cent which picked up some of the slack in their offensive production. Every other category went the way of the Kings, but the most notable of Sydney’s successes was their ball movement and their damage down low in the paint. The Kings out assisted Brisbane 27-13 and owned the space near the basket, scoring 44 points in the paint compared to the Bullets’ 18.

Surprisingly, it was Moller that led his side in scoring with 20 points and five rebounds off the bench in 18 minutes on the floor, knocking down four triples on the way to the win. Martin (16 points and 10 rebounds) and Dejan Vasiljevic (13 points and five rebounds) were the next highest Sydney contributors, meanwhile Ware was the final King to accumulate 10 points or more, finishing with 11 points and nine assists.

Sobey was held to just 10 points in the second half meaning he would finish with a still impressive 31 points, nine rebounds and playing all 40 minutes, as well as going seven of seven from the free throw line and dropping six threes too. Cadee amassed 11 points and four rebounds, whereas Tyrell Harrison was an absolute animal on the boards with 19 rebounds and eight points.

Up next for Brisbane, they open up Round 13 when they travel to Wollongong to square off with the top four contending Illawarra Hawks, as the Bullets struggle to find solutions to their undermanned roster.

Despite missing an opportunity to add an extra win to their current five-game home stand in their last defeat to the Perth Wildcats a couple days ago, the Kings can exact revenge when they face the reigning champions again on Thursday at Qudos Bank Arena and defend their newly acquired top four position.

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