United survive scare from Harrison's Bullets

With Tyrell Harrison producing a dominant big man performance, the Brisbane Bullets grabbed the momentum and the lead in the fourth quarter but Melbourne United dug deep for the crucial 92-87 road win.

Melbourne did feel in control for a lot of the Saturday night contest at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, but couldn’t ever shake off Brisbane and then then Bullets got rolling.

The momentum swing started with Harrison's first three of the season on three quarter-time before they opened up the fourth quarter with a 15-2 run including two huge blocks from the Bullets centre.

That saw them briefly lead, but Melbourne answered back with the next nine points topped off by a triple from Tanner Krebs as they steadied to win by five and avoid what would have been a sixth loss in the past seven matches.

The game turned Melbourne's way coming out of the timeout to stop Brisbane's momentum with three offensive rebounds that led to scores with two of those from Kyle Bowen and the other from Krebs.

Melbourne only scored 12 points in the final quarter, but their defence in the last five minutes was excellent.

Bowen made the most of his chance to start in the absence of in-form four man Finn Delany to finish with 14 points and eight boards on 5/6 field goal shooting and going 2/2 from downtown.

Chris Goulding top-scored for Melbourne including 12 points in the first quarter on his way 19 for the game as he shakes off a couple of weeks run down with an illness. He made 3/6 from three-point territory.

Tyson Walker had another seven steals after eight earlier this season against Brisbane to go with 16 points and three assists with Krebs adding 12 points and four rebounds, Jesse Edwards 11 points and four boards, and Milton Doyle nine points and eight assists.

Harrison was a powerful presence for Brisbane finishing with 23 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks on 10/15 shooting with Javon Freeman-Liberty adding 21 points, seven boards, three assists and three steals.

Terry Taylor also had 15 points, six assists and five rebounds, and the returning Sam McDaniel nine points and five rebounds.

Melbourne entered the match having lost five of their past six games, while Brisbane (6-15) were fresh off their first win under interim coach Darryl McDonald - a 99-85 victory over New Zealand.

Goulding scored 12 of Melbourne's first 15 points in a hot personal start to the match, with his haul including 2/2 from long range.

Walker tallied four steals in the opening quarter alone as Melbourne edged out to a 27-22 lead.

Goulding had 17 points by midway through the second quarter as Melbourne unleashed a 14-0 run to open up a 15-point lead.

The margin extended to 17 points late in the quarter before Brisbane brought it back to 59-45 by half-time.

It would have been even less, but Freeman-Liberty's long-range buzzer beater was waved away.

However, there was no denying Harrison's three quarter-time buzzer-beater, with the centre registering his first three-pointer of the season to reduce the margin to nine points at the final change.

Harrison's rare three-pointer proved to be inspiring, with a fan hitting a halftime wonder shot during the break to win $10,000.

The start of the fourth quarter was the Harrison show, with the 26-year-old producing a huge dunk and a pair of blocks on Doyle and Goulding as Brisbane went on a 15-2 run to snatch an 86-82 lead, before Melbourne hit back.

The Bullets now back up to play their last game of 2025 on Tuesday night on the road to the Sydney Kings while Melbourne don't play again until 2026 against the Tasmania JackJumpers away next Wednesday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26

BRISBANE BULLETS 87 (Harrison 23, Freeman-Liberty 21, Taylor 15)

MELBOURNE UNITED 92 (Goulding 19, Walker 16, Bowen 14)

BOX SCORE