Batemon, Bullets impress to open Blitz

Dynamic point guards James Batemon and Jordon Crawford made hot starts to the NBL Blitz on the Gold Coast, but it was the Brisbane Bullets with their imposing bigs and Casey Prather that delivered the 89-76 win over the Tasmania JackJumpers.

Having already played four official pre-season games and playing close to home at Carrara Stadium, the Bullets were impressive to make a winning start to the Blitz.

While Batemon starred as point guard with 20 points on 4/9 three-point shooting and Tasmania's championship star Crawford produced 15 points in 19 minutes, Tyrell Harrison and Rocco Zikarsky combined for 23 points, seven rebounds and two blocks.

Prather also showed that he is ready for a significant impact in NBL25 with 14 points in 18 minutes helping Brisbane to the 13-point victory.

It was a first hit out for the JackJumpers against NBL opposition with Anthony Drmic and Sean Macdonald not out there while the Bullets have been busy already having four official pre-season games.

That saw them beat the Shanghai Sharks, Melbourne United and South East Melbourne Phoenix before a one-point loss to the Adelaide 36ers with Josh Bannan and Sam McDaniel not available to face the JackJumpers.

The Bullets looked a smoother running machine and threatened to open up a big lead throughout the first half including with 29 points to 19 in the first quarter on the way to leading by as much as 11.

However, Tasmania finished the half strongly and did look to cut the deficit to one on half-time except Jordon Crawford's circus trick on the buzzer came a split second too late.

The Bullets took further control in the third period to push that lead out to as much as 17 points and they just looked more prepared in their fifth pre-season encounter on the way to the 13-point victory.

James Batemon finished with those 20 points to go with three assists, three rebounds and three steals while Casey Prather showed exciting signs with the three-time champion having 14 points on 4/8 shooting.

Tyrell Harrison kept his hot form going with 15 points and four rebounds on 4/6 shooting with 7/7 at the line while Next Star Rocco Zikarsky had eight points, three boards and two blocked shots.

Along with the 15 points and four assists from Jordon Crawford, Tasmania got 11 points out of Majok Deng fresh off playing for South Sudan at Paris 2024 with Fabijan Krslovic adding 10 points and seven rebounds.

Brody Nunn also showed encouraging signs with six points and four assists in his first hit out fresh off being part of back-to-back NBL1 National Championships with the Knox Raiders.

The JackJumpers are next in action on the Gold Coast on Monday against the Adelaide 36ers with the Bullets taking on Melbourne United on Tuesday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL BLITZ

BRISBANE BULLETS 89 (Batemon 20, Harrison 15, Prather 14)

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 76 (Crawford 15, Deng 11, Krslovic 10)

BOX SCORE