Bullets too strong for 36ers in season opener

Brisbane Bullets fought back from an opening quarter deficit to defeat Adelaide 36ers 86-71 at Nissan Arena on Friday night.

Adelaide’s starting frontcourt of Isaac Humphries and Jacob Wiley were sensational at both ends of the floor, but the Bullets made all the plays down the stretch for the 15-point success.

The 36ers started on fire, scoring the first 15 points of the contest as the visitors connected on seven of their first eight shots, while Brisbane couldn’t buy a basket.

Trey Kell (nine points, five assists) drove to the bucket to score within the first 12 seconds, then splashed a three-pointer from the top of the key.

Humphries (17 points, seven rebounds) scored a tough bucket inside and when Wiley (15 points, nine rebounds, five assists) hit from downtown, Adelaide had a 10-0 lead.

Sunday Dech (13 points, six rebounds) drove hard to score on a three-point play, then Humphries slam dunked to make the lead 15-0 before Aron Baynes hit two free throws.

Humphries was a force inside, scoring 11 opening quarter points, but the Bullets fought back strong, attacking the hoop hard but the 36ers took a 28-18 lead into the first break.

The Bullets came out on a mission in the second quarter, Sobey drove hard along the baseline for a big dunk, then hit a mid-range jumper to cut the Adelaide lead to five points.

When Sobey connected on a three-pointer in transition, the 36ers lead was reduced to 29-27.

Adelaide’s hot shooting cooled off quickly as Brisbane started to get into a rhythm on their home floor, Wiley picking up a third foul which saw Alex Starling hit the court for his first NBL minutes.

Brisbane turned up the defensive pressure, forcing the 36ers into tough shots, and when Tyrell Harrison dunked, the Bullets took their first lead of the night at 37-36.

Next Star recruit Trentyn Flowers in his NBL debut scored his first point from free throw line, but Smith converted on a four-point play as the Bullets took a 41-40 lead into the main break.

The Bullets caught fire to open the second half, going on a 12-4 run to open up a 53-44 lead as Brisbane owned the offensive glass.

Starling scored his first NBL points over Baynes, but the Bullets were rolling, Scott connecting on a triple as Brisbane built a double-digit lead.

Brisbane took over the momentum of the contest, Dech’s three-pointer on the buzzer reducing the Bullets’ lead to 65-53 with 10 minutes to play.

Humphries finished a big dunk from a Kell dish and then the 211cm big man became facilitator as Flowers threw down a highlight to cut the Bullets’ lead to eight points.

Multiple times Adelaide cut the margin to a two-possession game in the final quarter, but the Bullets had the answers to keep their advantage and give coach Justin Schueller his first NBL success.

Adelaide will be back in action on Sunday afternoon on Brett Maher Court when the 36ers host Melbourne United at the Entertainment Centre from 1.30pm ACST.

BRISBANE BULLETS 86 (Sobey 18, Smith 15, McDaniel 13) def ADELAIDE 36ERS 71 (Humphries 17, Wiley 15, Dech 13) at Nissan Arena.

BOX SCORE