Match Recap: NBL25 Blitz, Game 2 v Brisbane Bullets

Melbourne United have dropped their second outing up in the Gold Coast at the NBL Blitz, going down to the Brisbane Bullets on Tuesday evening.

The Bullets started the game shooting well, knocking down their first pair of three-point attempts before Rob Loe got United on board with a tip-in.

Ian Clark and Jack White each followed this up with threes of their own before the latter got all the way to the hoop for a huge and-one dunk.

Development Player Joel Foxwell, who, along with Campbell Blogg, suited up to replace the pair of Matthew Dellavedova and Chris Goulding, didn’t take long to make his mark on the score-sheet, getting to the free-throw line before connecting on a floater.

The main issue United faced however was on the interior, as Bullets big-man Tyrell Harrison tallied 12 points, six rebounds and two blocks in the opening period, helping Brisbane to a 25-20 lead.

Looking to fight their way back into the game, some great combined plays from the likes of Akech Aliir, Rob Loe and Shea Ili gave Melbourne their first lead of the contest.

This advantage was short lived however, as a Brisbane scoring run propelled them back in front by as many as 15 points.

The margin would ultimately settle at 11 points as the two sides went into the major break.

Knowing his team needed a boost, Ian Clark took it upon himself to provide United with energy coming out of half time.

The import guard tallied 11 points in the period, while Blogg came into the game and splashed one of his looks from beyond the arc to help cut Brisbane’s lead to just five points at one stage.

After the Bullets went on another run, an Aliir tip-in to end the term set United a ten-point deficit to try and overcome in the final quarter.

In a back and forth 10 minutes of action, many of United’s stars shined as they looked to secure the come from behind victory.

White, Blogg, Ili, Clark and Tanner Krebs all had success from three, while Foxwell and Flynn Cameron got it done inside the paint.

Trailing by only six points with two minutes remaining, late turnovers proved costly, resulting in Brisbane holding on for a seven-point win.

Melbourne United will next face the Illawarra Hawks on Thursday evening from 5pm. The game will be streamed on Kayo.