Former King turns challenger to the crown

Stu Lash has labelled Saturday night as the biggest game of NBL26 for the Brisbane Bullets, following their best performance of the season. With Jaylen Adams set to face his former team the Sydney Kings, and Tristan Devers eager for more challenges, the Bullets are riding a wave of confidence.

They delivered their most impressive offensive display yet on Thursday, securing their first home win at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre with a 28-point victory over the Cairns Taipans. Now, they will look to make it back-to-back wins for the first time this season when they host the Kings on Saturday night.

It also marks Adams’ first game against his former club, and Lash has no doubt he is ready after a strong performance with 20 points, seven assists and five rebounds against the Taipans.

"I'm sure he's (Adams) ready and he won't say much, but he's a competitor and he knows who's coming into town," Lash said.

"He and I spent a lot of time this week talking about the mindset he needs to bring into the game and what we need from him on the defensive end, and I thought that was really evident today. It was probably his best game of the season, just from picking up the ball in the back court and being active and aggressive.

"I had a feeling he was going to have a really solid game tonight to build into Saturday night."

With the Kings having not played since blowing a 16-point fourth quarter lead on Sunday at home to the Tasmania JackJumpers, Lash knows how motivated they will be.

"It's the biggest game for us of the season at this point and we've put ourselves in a position where we're right in the middle of the ladder," Lash said.

"Sydney's had a tough start so they're going to come in with a real edge and urgency, there's no doubt, and they are one of the benchmark clubs in this league.

"To have them here at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Saturday night, we'll have a great crowd and we're really looking forward to that opportunity to compete."

One revelation for the Bullets this season has been 20-year-old guard Tristan Devers, who has started in the past five matches, with the team a +24 in that stretch.

He has taken on some of the biggest back court defensive assignments and is looking forward to another challenge on Saturday night against Matthew Dellavedova and Kendric Davis from Sydney.

"It's definitely going to be a good challenge again on Saturday, and putting nerves aside, seeing it as a good challenge is going to be beneficial for me," Devers said.

"It's all about getting to the scout, trusting the coaches and what they want me to do on them, and I'm looking forward to it."