Adel shines for Bullets, Ili ejected

Who says pre-season games don't matter. Shea Ili found himself having an early shower as the Brisbane Bullets beat Melbourne United on Tuesday night with Deng Adel making himself an early best off-season signing contender.

Adel had 15 points in the first half on Friday night in Brisbane's first pre-season hit out. He backed that up with 24 points on 7/9 shooting in Tuesday's 90-75 victory for the Bullets at Casey Stadium on the back of a stunning 22-0 scoring run to close the third quarter.

It was a first hit out of the pre-season for United after last season's Grand Final appearance while the Bullets had already got some cobwebs out beating the Shanghai Sharks 94-75 on Friday night at Nissan Arena.

Both teams were minus some key players with Melbourne without Chris Goulding, Matthew Dellavedova, Ian Clark and Marcus Lee while the Bullets came in still without Sam McDaniel and Isaac White along with Josh Bannan and Casey Prather.

Melbourne raced out to a 12-5 start on the back of a Tanner Krebs triple on the way to an eventual 27-20 lead by the end of one.

Brisbane turned the tide with 22 points to nine in the second term to be leading 42-36 at the main break, but United again grabbed back the momentum to be leading 47-46.

From that point the Bullets took control with 22 consecutive points including two triples from James Batemon, a big flush from Rocco Zikarsky and Melbourne's frustrations spilled over.

Shea Ili didn’t get two calls he thought he deserved and picked up two tech fouls in the space of 30 seconds to have his night over before three quarter-time.

Brisbane would end up leading by as much as 21 on the way to the 15-point win with Deng Adel finishing with 24 points on 7/10 shooting from the floor and 8/8 at the foul line.

Tyrell Harrison is continuing to emerge as a potentially dominant centre with 20 points, six rebounds and three steals while new import guard James Batemon made 3/6 from downtown for 13 points, six boards and five assists.

Exciting young gun Kye Savage had 11 points while Next Star Rocco Zikarsky contributed 10 points, eight rebounds and two blocks, and Keandre Cook eight points, three assists and three steals.

Tanner Krebs top-scored for Melbourne with 11 points and two steals with Ili having 10 points, three assists and three steals before his night ended early.

Jack White had eight points and six rebounds, Akech Aliir seven points and four boards, Flynn Cameron six points and three rebounds, and new development player signing Joel Foxwell six points and three assists.

Both teams will continue their pre-season with match ups with the South East Melbourne Phoenix this week with the Bullets taking them on in Wangaratta on Thursday before United face their crosstown rivals at the State Basketball Centre on Saturday night.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL PRE-SEASON

MELBOURNE UNITED 75 (Krebs 11, Ili 10, White 8)

BRISBANE BULLETS 90 (Adel 24, Harrison 20, Batemon 13)

BOX SCORE