Randle, Dieng stand up in loss to Bullets

The Sky Sport Breakers did well to fight back from a slow start in Hobart on Monday night, but couldn’t quite overcome it a second time with the Brisbane Bullets going on to claim the 92-74 victory.

The Bullets started the game on fire at MyState Bank Arena racing to a 12-1 lead, but the Breakers did well to steady and even took a narrow lead late in the first quarter, and for a time in the second period.

However, Brisbane scored the last six points of the first half and then the first 12 of the third quarter, and the Breakers couldn’t quite recover from that to end up falling to the 18-point Monday night loss.

It was another rough night for the Breakers who have now lost four straight at 4-13. Chasson Randle had his best game for New Zealand, though, with 20 points while Ousmane Dieng stood out once more with 17 points, three rebounds and three steals.

Finn Delany battled hard for 12 points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists with Peyton Siva adding 12 points, six assists and five steals.

Sam Timmins added six points, four rebounds and two blocks for New Zealand, Rob Loe three points and two boards, and Kyrin Galloway three points and three rebounds.

Breakers coach Dan Shamir was frustrated his team's third quarter struggles continued.

"We started poorly, slow and got back with some pressure and quick returns, and brought a little bit more intensity," Shamir said. 

"We finished down eight after the second quarter with a few cheap points from offensive rebounds and stuff like that. The third quarter obviously hurt us a lot and it's happened to us before where we are in a tough moment and situation on a lot of fronts. 

"This is definitely one of the things that has happened to us a few times and we are trying to address what happens in the first few minutes in the third quarter. Today it obviously cost us a big hole that we couldn’t come back from."

Jason Cadee finished with 22 points and nine assists to match his career-high marks in his time in Brisbane while Robert Franks was outstanding again with 23 points and 10 rebounds.

Both teams had to create their own atmosphere in the building and the Bullets had no trouble doing that early, starting with buckets to Jack Salt and Isaiah Moss as they made the most of their starts.

The only point for the Breakers in more than the first five minutes was a solitary free-throw to Ousmane Dieng. The Bullets then hit the next eight points including a three-point play to Robert Franks and triple to Jason Cadee to lead 12-1.

The Breakers had to hit back and to their credit, they did starting with their first field goal of the night more than five minutes into the game thanks to Finn Delany. That was the start of a run of eight straight points capped off with a Peyton Siva three ball.

Dieng knocked down a three-pointer soon after too to give New Zealand the lead but Brisbane snatched it back to be up 19-18 at quarter-time thanks to a Ty Harrison dunk on the buzzer.

Brisbane again pulled away early in the second quarter scoring seven consecutive points, but again New Zealand responded to go on their own run of the next 10 of 12 points to take back the lead thanks to Delany.

The seesawing momentum continued with Brisbane closing the half with a 9-1 run to lead 39-31 at the main break.

Cadee made sure the game didn’t remain in the balance for long when he drained two open threes to start the second half. He then took it inside for a three-point play. Moss also connected from deep for 12 straight points, the 18-0 run overall and it was a 20-point ball game.

By three quarter-time, Brisbane extended that to 23 and both teams had their moments in the fourth quarter. Chasson Randle made three triples for New Zealand, Franks added another couple for Brisbane, and Cadee hit his fifth of the night on the way to the 18-point win.

The Breakers now take on the Adelaide 36ers at the old Adelaide 36ers Arena.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 14

SKY SPORT BREAKERS 74 (Randle 20, Dieng 17, Siva 12, Delany 12)

BRISBANE BULLETS 92 (Franks 23, Cadee 22, Moss 10) 

BOX SCORE