Bullets Fire Despite Brilliant Tucker

By Chris Pike for NBL Media
Photo: Rayjon Tucker (Credit - Melbourne United Media)

Rayjon Tucker put on a show to raise the excitement levels over what he will bring to Melbourne United in NBL23, but on the back of their in-form NBL1 championship winners, the Brisbane Bullets claimed a second win in three days.

While Tucker was spectacular for Melbourne to show there's plenty to like for United despite the departures of Matthew Dellavedova, Jack White and Jo Lual-Acuil, but with Tanner Krebs and Devondrick Walker continuing their hot form, the Bullets again prevailed 76-72.

United and the Bullets played their second game against one another in three days in the lead-up to the NBL Blitz in Darwin starting next week. It was Brisbane who dominated on Thursday night in Ballarat winning 105-77. Melbourne came out hot on Saturday at Casey Stadium scoring the opening six points, sparked by new import guard Tucker.

Tucker ended up having quite the spectacular night as well, with 15 first half points on his way to 28 points and nine rebounds for the game, but the longer the contest went, the stronger the Bullets looked.

Photo: Tip off at Casey (Credit - Melbourne United Media)

Melbourne did lead for most of the opening half, at one stage by as much as seven, but Brisbane took over the contest in the third quarter and it was two of their stars fresh off winning NBL1 championships who lit it up.

It was North champion with the Gold Coast Rollers, Krebs, along with West MVP and Grand Final MVP with the Rockingham Flames, Walker who were the spark for Brisbane to take over the contest with 26 points to 13 in the third period.

That saw Brisbane rack up a 13-point lead and despite Melbourne continuing to fight the game out to keep things interesting, it was the Bullets who held firm for the four-point victory. 

Even more impressive on top of the performance from the Bullets again was the fact that they have superstar trio Aron Baynes, Nathan Sobey and Tyler Johnson still to come into the lineup.

As for those who were on the court, Walker delivered 17 points, four rebounds and two assists in 25 minutes, just days after joining the Bullets. 

Krebs hit four-of-seven from downtown for the Bullets, on his way to 15 points. His Rollers captain Jason Cadee also had 10 points.

Melbourne was without Isaac Humphries, Shea Ili and Mason Peatling, but all talk afterwards will be about the performance of Rayjon Tucker and what he's going to be capable of producing in NBL23.

It wasn’t just his 28 points and nine rebounds, but the way he was able to accelerate and push the pace, and either take the ball to the rack or pull up for a jump shot that signalled what a tough guard he is going to be.

Captain Chris Goulding also scored 14 points for Melbourne while Xavier Rathan-Mayes added eight points. Ariel Hukporti had seven points, seven rebounds and two blocks, with the second-year Next Star especially imposing inside, before fouling out late in the piece.

Both teams will begin their NBL Blitz campaigns in Darwin next Sunday, with the Bullets to face the New Zealand Breakers while United will be taking on the Illawarra Hawks.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL PRE-SEASON

MELBOURNE UNITED 72 (Tucker 28, Goulding 14, Rathan-Mayes 8)
BRISBANE BULLETS 76 (Walker 17, Krebs 15, Gak 11) 

BOX SCORE

Photo: Chris Goulding from downtown (Credit - Melbourne United Media)