Phoenix pressure key to Brisbane win

South East Melbourne Phoenix centre Jordan Hunter landed four triples and his team's pressure defence forced the Brisbane Bullets into 23 turnovers to allow them to dominate the possession game in the 103-76 win.

The Bullets were back at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre trying to build on a big finish against Melbourne United despite not yet having available returning import Javon Freeman-Liberty and newly acquired Terry Taylor.

They had no answers for the pressure defence of the Phoenix, though, and that forced the Bullets into eight first-quarter turnovers and 23 for the game which helped the visitors take a monstrous 24 extra field goal attempts.

And big man Hunter stretched the floor in his match up with Tyrell Harrison for 4/5 three-point shooting with 24 points and nine rebounds to help ensure South East Melbourne were never really troubled on the way to the 27-point road win to improve to 9-3 on the season.

The Phoenix had the game on their terms virtually from the outset after racing to a 7-2 and 17-7 lead, and continued to hold a double-figure lead most of the rest of the night including a 29-15 fourth quarter to score 100-plus points for the seventh time in their 12 games.

On top of their 24 extra shot attempts from the 23 Brisbane turnovers, South East Melbourne pulled down 14 offensive rebounds and shot 15/36 from three-point territory.

Not only did Hunter go 4/5, but former Bullets captain Nathan Sobey went 4/8 against his ex-team to end up with 13 points and six assists.

The Phoenix had seven players all playing between 17 and 28 minutes for the game showing their depth even in the absence of Next Star Malique Lewis and import guard Hunter Maldonado.

Wes Iwundu started in place of Lewis for 13 points and four rebounds with Owen Foxwell ended up with 11 points, four boards and four assists, and Angus Glover 11 points, four rebounds and two assists while his team was +28 in his 25:28 of court time.

John Brown III's numbers of eight points, four steals and three assists might not jump out, but his impact was as significant as anyone's for the winners.

The Bullets are now 5-10 on the season and 1-6 at home but will look forward to a fresh start after the FIBA break with the potential of Sam McDaniel returning along with the inclusions of Taylor and Freeman-Liberty.

Replacement import Lamar Patterson did appear to injure a hamstring while Tyrell Harrison finished with 16 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two blocks on 7/10 field goal shooting.

Fellow big man Jacob Holt also played the best game of his short NBL career with 11 points, nine rebounds and two assists with Mitch Norton adding 12 points and four assists, Dakota Mathias 12 points and three boards, and Alex Ducas 10 points, four rebounds and two assists.

The Bullets now don't play again until after the FIBA break in Adelaide on Friday December 5 while the Phoenix have the quick turnaround to host that same 36ers team on Saturday at John Cain Arena.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26

BRISBANE BULLETS 76 (Harrison 16, Mathias 12, Norton 12)

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 103 (Hunter 24, Iwundu 13, Sobey 13)

BOX SCORE