Bullets Storm Back from 24 Down to Stun Breakers in Thriller

The Brisbane Bullets delivered one of the great comebacks of the NBL season, rallying from 24 points down to edge the New Zealand Breakers 84–83 in a heart-stopping finish at Eventfinda Stadium on Thursday night.

Tyrell Harrison was the hero, capping a remarkable night with two game-saving blocks on the final possession after the Breakers had one last chance to win it. His defensive stand sealed a result that seemed unthinkable at halftime.

The Bullets were blown off the floor early as Sam Mennenga dominated the first half, scoring 25 of his 27 points in the opening 18 minutes as New Zealand built a 52–28 lead. But Brisbane’s resilience and composure after the break turned the game on its head.

Casey Prather led the charge once again with 23 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks, continuing his brilliant run of form. Replacement import Lamar Patterson came up clutch with 20 points and six boards — including the final two buckets of the game, the last putting Brisbane ahead with 9.4 seconds to go.

Harrison finished with 16 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks, including those two decisive rejections on Parker Jackson-Cartwright and Izayah Le’Afa in the dying seconds. Jaylen Adams added 14 points and five assists, while Taine Murray contributed 10 points in front of his home crowd.

The Breakers’ hot start faded quickly after halftime. Mennenga’s dominance disappeared under increased defensive pressure, managing just two points in the second half. Jackson-Cartwright had 17 points, six rebounds and five assists, while Izaiah Brockington scored 12, but the pair struggled for efficiency, combining for 12-of-38 shooting.

Brisbane’s fightback began late in the second quarter and gathered steam through the third, with their bench energy and defensive stops forcing turnovers and shifting the momentum. By the early stages of the fourth, the deficit had vanished.

The Breakers’ foul trouble proved costly, opening the door for Patterson’s late heroics before Harrison’s two monster blocks iced a comeback that will be remembered for years in Bullets history

The Breakers now have a week to regroup before visiting the Illawarra Hawks, while the Bullets face a rapid turnaround, returning home to host the South East Melbourne Phoenix on Saturday.

Final score: Brisbane Bullets 84 defeated New Zealand Breakers 83.