FRESH off one of their most important wins of the 2025/26 National Basketball League (NBL), Melbourne United will be looking to keep their momentum rolling when they take on the Brisbane Bullets in the first game of Round 17.

United will welcome the Bullets to Red Energy Arena on Wednesday night for another of their home games to be held in Bendigo, after showing plenty of toughness during the HoopsFest round last weekend, and will enter the game as favourites against a struggling Brisbane outfit.

However, Melbourne has been shaky at best over the past couple of months, and the Bullets will be eager to play party pooper in the race for the finals, so an upset could certainly be brewing in regional Victoria tonight.

Melbourne United vs. Brisbane Bullets

Red Energy Arena
Wednesday, January 20 @ 5:30pm

Melbourne’s slide down the standings has been one of the biggest storylines of the 2025/26 season, having started the fixture with nine wins from nine games, before dropping down to fourth spot after a serious form slump.

However, United showed plenty of toughness against one of their biggest rivals out west last weekend, defeating the Tasmania JackJumpers by two points in a thrilling affair at RAC Arena on Saturday night. Tasmania has had the wood over Melbourne at times in recent years, but United showed grit down the stretch, chasing loose balls and defending with intent.

It was a win that saw Melbourne remain in the top four after coming dangerously close to dropping down to fifth given its form slump of late. Now, United will face a Brisbane side that is limping to the end of the season and provides the perfect opportunity for a confidence-boosting win.

One player who will have a huge say in Melbourne’s chances of finishing inside the top four will be Milton Doyle, who has been out of form on the offensive side of things, which is reflective of his team’s performances of late. Since joining the NBL, Doyle has shown his traits as a match-winner, and could get himself back in form against an undermanned Brisbane side.

In what has been a difficult campaign, the Bullets will be looking to reset over the offseason, entering tonight’s clash with a record of six wins and 20 losses, sitting in last spot in the standings having lost two of their ‘big three’ imports and made an in-season coaching change.

Their opponent tonight is also likely to prove troublesome, with Melbourne winning 16 of the past 17 clashes between the two sides. Brisbane will have to overturn history if it is to get the win, but the available Bullets have shown plenty of fight in recent weeks despite being up against it, and is capable of getting the job done tonight.

One of the most impressive performers for Brisbane amidst a tough campaign has been recently signed import Hunter Maldonado, who has impressed since moving from the SEM Phoenix. He is putting relentless pressure on the rim, playing to his strengths and scoring inside to be a valuable performer on the offensive end, and will need a big performance tonight to give his side their best chance of snagging a win.