Stattmann fires as JackJumpers beat Bullets

Kody Stattmann started on fire and had his NBL career-best night and the Tasmania JackJumpers took control in the third quarter against the Brisbane Bullets to wrap up their road double this round with the 104-92 win.

The JackJumpers were coming off a loss in Perth on Thursday night where they only had seven players hitting the floor in the continued absence of David Johnson, Nick Marshall, Bryce Hamilton, Ben Gold and Majok Deng.

The Bullets were also coming off an overtime loss in New Zealand on Friday and the home team at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre were also still without Arnas Velička, Sam McDaniel, Jacob Holt and Max Mackinnon.

The Bullets started well to lead the majority of the first half but it was Stattmann along with Nick Stoddart instrumental in keeping the JackJumpers in the game scoring 19 of their team's 21 opening quarter points, and 29 of their 50 for the half.

Tasmania then took control in the third quarter scoring 13 straight points and opening up a 15-point lead when Stattmann knocked down his sixth triple of the game.

The JackJumpers cruised to the 12-point win from there to improve to 9-4 to remain just percentage behind the league-leading Sydney Kings.

Stattmann finished off with the best performance of his 71-game NBL career with 28 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals with 6/11 three-point shooting.

Nick Stoddart also had 14 points and three assists off the bench while Dakota Mathias was one of three former Bullets starting for the JackJumpers to enjoy their return with 22 points, four rebounds and four assists.

Taran Armstrong added 17 points, three rebounds and three assists, Josh Bannan 12 points, 12 rebounds and four assists, and captain Will Magnay six points, eight boards, five assists and three steals.

The Bullets are now 6-8 after three consecutive defeats with Nate Hinton again impressive with 27 points, four assists, three rebounds and three steals.

Raul Neto had a strong start to have 15 points, two rebounds and two steals but played only one minute in the second half with Taine Murray finishing with 15 points and three assists, and Tyrell Harrison 14 points and four boards in just 20 minutes.

It was the third meeting of the season already between the two teams with the JackJumpers having won the first two encounters, but the Bullets had the better of the start to be up 26-21 by quarter-time.

That was on the back of shooting 9/18 from the field to 6/17 with Raul Neto already having 10 points while Tyrell Harrison worked with him nicely for six points and three rebounds.

It was two players grabbing their chance for Tasmania with Kody Stattmann and Nick Stoddart combining for 19 of their 21 points while shooting 6/8 between them and the rest of the team going 0/9.

Both teams continued to play enterprising basketball in the second quarter with the Bullets going into half-time narrowly leading 52-50 on the back of another 26 points with Harrison having no impact in the term after a third foul.

Neto was up to 15 points for the home team with Nate Hinton adding 10 points and three assists.

Stattmann was up to 19 points already with 5/6 three-point shooting for the JackJumpers as they scored 29 points on 12/19 shooting in the quarter as a team to get back to within two.

The JackJumpers then took control of the game in the third quarter including going on a 13-0 scoring run where their defence had locked in on the Bullets, and they were executing nicely up the other end.

That saw Tasmania end up producing 29 points to 14 in the term on the back of shooting 10/20 from the field and 6/6 at the foul line and limiting Brisbane to 6/14 and forcing them into another four turnovers while pulling down six offensive rebounds themselves.

The JackJumpers continued to have all the answers through the fourth quarter on the way to the 12-point win to have still not lost consecutive games in NBL27.

The Bullets now have a full seven days before a last game before the FIBA break next Sunday hosting the Sydney Kings while the JackJumpers are home to the Illawarra Hawks on Saturday night.

BRISBANE BULLETS 92 – TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 104

Brisbane Bullets
Nate Hinton – 27 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 3 steals
Taine Murray – 15 points, 3 assists
Raul Neto – 15 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals
Tyrell Harrison – 14 points, 4 rebounds
Archie Woodhill – 8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists

Tasmania JackJumpers
Kody Stattmann – 28 points, 5 rebounds, 6/11 3PT
Dakota Mathias – 22 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists
Taran Armstrong – 17 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists
Nick Stoddart – 14 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds
Josh Bannan – 12 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists