Baynes, Bannan fire Bullets to win over Phoenix

The Brisbane Bullets continued their impressive resurgence and welcomed back Aron Baynes, but it was a strong team performance that was key to a 108-92 home win against the South East Melbourne Phoenix.

Both teams came into the Thursday night clash to open the NBL's Indigenous Round in form with Brisbane hitting back from a four-game losing slide to beat Perth and Tasmania last weekend while South East Melbourne arrived on a four-match winning run.

It proved to be a whistle heavy contest with 53 fouls called and 77 free-throws attempted between the two teams, and both sides were hurt by the foul trouble, but the Bullets responded teh better.

Brisbane pair Josh Bannan and Nathan Sobey both picked up two early fouls but it was the three to Phoenix big man Alan Williams that proved defining.

He ultimately picked up his fifth foul early in the fourth quarter and with Gorjok Gak also injuring a calf, it was Brisbane's big men who took control of the contest.

That included the returning Baynes who finished with 12 points and eight rebounds in almost 15 minutes coming off the bench in his first game back since his five-game suspension ended.

"He was outstanding. He was really able to put them in positions where we were able to draw some fouls on them," Bullets coach Justin Schueller said.

"Just having the big fella back and his experience, his presence ... he was great tonight.

"He's done it tough while he's been out, but he's been a great teammate the whole way, and we couldn't wait for him to get back."

Tyrell Harrison continued to start at the centre spot and was tremendous despite also battling foul trouble to deliver 14 points, eight rebounds and two blocks while rookie Josh Bannan continued to thrive in the four spot with 17 points and 11 boards.

As it would turn out, on a night where 77 foul shots were taken, Brisbane going 30-of-35 opposed to South East Melbourne 27-of-42 was pivotal.

"There was no problem with the energy and the fight and the togetherness of the guys," Phoenix coach Mike Kelly said.

"But I think we must connect it better and be on the same page more often for us to be a legitimate winning team in this competition." 

In the end, it was the all-round contributions that was key for the Bullets with seven players scoring in double-figures. Chris Smith chimed in with 14 points on 3-of-6 three-point shooting with Nathan Sobey adding 13 points and four rebounds, Isaac White 13 points and six assists, and Mitch Norton 10 points, nine assists and six rebounds.

"That to me is what tonight was about - that we got a real collective effort - and I couldn't be happier," Schueller said.

The win is a third straight for Brisbane while it ends a four-game winning run for South East Melbourne who were paced by on-fire Puerto Rican point guard Gary Browne who had 25 points, eight rebounds, five assists and four steals.

Mitch Creek had 20 points and four rebounds with Williams finishing with 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists despite being limited to under 20 minutes.

In a wild start to the contest, opposing stars Sobey and Williams were both called for unsportsmanlike fouls in separate incidents within two minutes of tip-off.

Williams had three fouls in the first period alone, and Gak's injury forced the Phoenix to turn to Rhys Vague to try and battle Brisbane's big men depth.

Brisbane also had a scare when Baynes temporarily hobbled off with a sore left knee.

But he and Harrison combined for 21 first-half points to steer the Bullets to a commanding 59-42 lead at the main break.

The tide turned as four Bullets turnovers in three minutes of the third period opened the door for the Phoenix after they had just one in the entire opening half.

Browne helped cut the deficit to as little as six points during the third period before Brisbane steadied.

Williams thought he had fouled out midway through the third period, but the call was overturned on a coaches review.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL INDIGENOUS ROUND

BRISBANE BULLETS 108 (Bannan 17, Harrison 14, Smith 14)

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 92 (Browne 25, Creek 20, Williams 14)

BOX SCORE