It appears the Brisbane Bullets got their money’s worth with the two-year signing of sharp-shooting veteran guard Chris Smith looking like a justified decision following the home side’s 86-71 victory over the Adelaide 36ers at Nissan Arena on Friday night.
In an inspired comeback after trailing 15-0 just 2:30 into the contest, Smith put up a valuable 15 points, with each of his two threes coming at timely moments where Brisbane needed a boost.
One of them was a crowd-pleasing and-one three to see out the half, turning a more than ugly start into a 41-40 lead heading into the main break.
Helping Smith scorch was centre Aron Baynes, who had 13 rebounds in the clash to go along with 12 points.
Also providing highlights was guard Nathan Sobey (18 points) who was the catalyst to the Bullets resurgent second quarter which saw them turn a ten-point deficit (18-28) into a one-point lead (41-40).
Baynes’ opposite Isaac Humphries top scored for his team with 17 points and seven rebounds, while Trey Kell III (nine points), Jacob Wiley (15 points) and Sunday Dech (13 points) had strong contributions.
To finish the game, Bullets head coach Justin Schueller gave NBL Next Star Rocco Zikarsky a 28 second taste and in that time the 220cm 17-year-old scored two points, grabbed two rebounds and swatted away a shot.
HUMPHRIES HUGE
Adelaide got off to a hot start, storming out to a 15-0 lead just 2:20 into the contest after a stale start by the home side.
At the forefront was 211cm centre Isaac Humphries, who posted 11 first quarter points despite matching up with NBA champion Aron Baynes.
At Humphries’ aid was powerful guard Trey Kell III who contributed seven (in the first quarter), doing his best work driving to the basket.
SOBEY SHOWCASE
It got quiet in Nissan Arena when Brisbane trailed 15-0 early, then 28-18 at quarter time but Bullets star point guard Nathan Sobey threw on his cape and came to the rescue.
His first half heroics, which began with a ferocious two-handed jam 1:30 into the second quarter, saw the home side capture their first lead (37-36) with 1:40 left in the first half.
Brisbane then held a one-point-lead at the break, 41-40, after a crisp free throw line jumper and subsequent pull-up three sparked a comeback much to the delight of the home crowd.
After a slow start, the boys in blue, spearheaded by Boomer Sobey, had come to play.
BAYNES’ ACTIVITY
Before Sobey said “follow me boys” with his elite shot-creation, centre Aron Baynes was toiling away on the glass to gain an edge.
At first it went unrewarded, but soon enough the repeated efforts of Baynes on the boards gave Brisbane life and allowed them a second look.
On one occasion, Baynes kept play alive with two offensive rebounds, before finishing the play himself as he hauled in his third rebound in the one possession.
Baynes had four rebounds by quarter time and eight by the half, but it felt like he had double that.
He finished with 13 rebounds and 12 points.
Originally published as NBL24 news: Brisbane Bullets complete incredible comeback win over Adelaide 36ers
