Sixers go down to Bullets on the road

Adelaide 36ers fought hard right to the final buzzer but have fallen to a Nathan Sobey-inspired Brisbane Bullets 102-84 at Nissan Arena on Friday night.

An inspiring performance from DJ Vasiljevic, who scored a team-high 28 points to go with seven rebounds and three assists, was not enough as the Bullets used a 9-0 run either side of three-quarter time to run out 18-point winners.

Sobey scored a career-high 37 points, while Mitch Norton added 15 points, six assists and five rebounds as the Bullets shot 55 per cent from the three-point line, compared to Adelaide’s 14 per cent.

Trey Kell got to the free throw line to add 13 points to go with 10 rebounds and three assists, while Kyrin Galloway also added 13 points and Isaac Humphries had an 11-point, nine-rebound performance.

Sobey started on target for the Bullets, scoring Brisbane’s first seven points as the home side started with a 7-2 lead.

Adelaide looked to attack the basket, Mitch McCarron, Kell then Humphries getting to the free throw line to reduce the Bullets’ lead to 12-11.

Vasiljevic then connected on his first three shots for seven quick points and Alex Starling checked into the game and scored off his first two attempts.

But Sobey continued his good start, scoring 12 points in the first 10 minutes as the Bullets took a 22-20 lead into quarter time.

Kell kept the scoreboard ticking over from the free throw line as Starling played a significant role at both ends of the court, but the Bullets still held a 32-31 lead.

Galloway connected on his first three-pointer of the night to tie the game at 36-36 before the Bullets went on a 10-0 run to open a 46-36 lead.

Sobey continued to score for the home side, the Boomers bronze medalist went to half time with 22 points as Brisbane took a 52-44 lead into the main interval.

Galloway swished his third three-pointer of the night to start the second half, but the Bullets then scored the next two baskets to increase their lead to 56-47.

Vasiljevic started to attack the hoop, converting a three-point play, then scoring on a tough drive to the basket as the 36ers reduced the Brisbane lead to 58-54.

But Sobey again sparked as the home side as the Bullets went on another 10-0 run as Brisbane increased their lead to 15 points.

READ MORE

• COACHES CORNER: 'There's never been a season like this'
• SCOUTING REPORT: Sixers focused on Bullets battle
• Starling has faith ahead of Bullets assignment
• DJ re-signs for three more years

Adelaide responded as Vasiljevic sparked a 9-0 run for the 36ers, but Sobey swished his sixth three-pointer on the three-quarter time buzzer as the hosts took a 76-67 lead into the final 10 minutes.

Sam McDaniel, then Casey Prather swished three-pointers to open the final quarter as the Bullets pushed their lead back out to 15 points on the back of a 9-0 run.

As hard as Adelaide made one final push to get back into the contest, the Bullets had all the answers, a three-pointer from Norton sealing the victory.

Adelaide will be back in action next Sunday afternoon when the 36ers host New Zealand Breakers at the Entertainment Centre from 3.30pm ACDT.

BRISBANE BULLETS 102 (Sobey 37, Norton 15, Baynes 10) def ADELAIDE 36ERS 84 (Vasiljevic 28, Kell 13, Galloway 13, Humphries 11) at Nissan Arena.

BOX SCORE