Doyle, United gear up for Tasmania opener

Milton Doyle looks to be quickly fitting nicely into Melbourne United colours ahead of starting NBL26 back on his old home floor after helping his team to the 108-90 pre-season win on the Sunshine Coast over the Brisbane Bullets.

It was a last pre-season hit out for both teams ahead of the new season at the University of Sunshine Coast Arena with a good crowd turning out at the venue of last year's NBL1 National Finals to see some rare local NBL action.

By the end of the evening, Melbourne had got themselves nice and ready for Thursday night's season-opener against the Tasmania JackJumpers with the 18-point win with Doyle outstanding ahead of his first season with United.

Doyle ended up with 16 points and six assists on a night where Shea Ili returned for Melbourne having overcome concussion symptoms but Chris Goulding sat out once more.

Melbourne got off to a flying start with the first 10 points of the game including a couple of throwdown dunks from Dutch import Jesse Edwards.

Brisbane eventually got on the board thanks to Sam McDaniel, but Shea Ili then stretched the United lead to 13-2 with a three-point play and Dash Daniels made it a 15-4 lead with a dunk of his own.

Melbourne were still leading 33-14 by quarter-time on the back of shooting 70 per cent from the field in that opening 10 minutes to 38 from the Bullets who also had six turnovers.

The Bullets came to life to open the second period with a 10-2 run including a couple of three balls to former NBL MVP Jaylen Adams, but Melbourne answered with the next six points including four of those to their own dynamic import guard Tyson Walker.

United turned that into a 52-37 lead by half-time and maintained control through the second half with the eventual 18-point win shooting 54 per cent from the field while pulling down 15 offensive rebounds and getting to the foul line 15 times.

The Bullets were without key pair Alex Ducas and Javon Freeman-Liberty but they also still shot 51 per cent and went 9/18 from downtown with Casey Prather top-scoring with 17 points on 3/6 three-point shooting.

Tyrell Harrison added 14 points, seven rebounds five assists, four steals and a block with Sam McDaniel contributing 13 points and five boards, Taine Murray 11 points, three rebounds and two assists, and Jaylen Adams 10 points and seven assists.

Both teams now turn their attention to the opening of NBL26 with Melbourne United in action first up in the season opener on Thursday night on the road to the Tasmania JackJumpers with an early return to MyState Bank Arena for Milton Doyle and Fabijan Krslovic.

The Bullets will start the season on the road to the New Zealand Breakers at Spark Arena on Friday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL PRE-SEASON 2025/26

BRISBANE BULLETS 90 (Prather 17, Harrison 14, McDaniel 13)

MELBOURNE UNITED 108 (Edwards 17, Krebs 16, Doyle 16)

BOX SCORE