Bullets close on Finals with big win

Nathan Sobey's 37-point masterclass has catapulted the Brisbane Bullets to fourth on the NBL ladder in a comprehensive 102-84 victory over the Adelaide 36ers at Nissan Arena.

Sobey made 6-of-8 three-pointers, hauling the Bullets (13-14) onto his back from the opening tip on Friday night and motoring them past New Zealand, Illawarra and Sydney on the ladder, while terminating the faint finals hopes of the 36ers (11-16).

Brisbane will snap their five-year playoff drought if they beat the Breakers in Auckland in next week's final round.

It was a career-best performance in the 261st game for Sobey in the NBL topping the 36 he scored on Christmas Eve also against Adelaide.

Perhaps just as encouraging for the Bullets was that he had all his 37 points in the first three quarters, but they still outscored Adelaide 26 points to 17 in the final period.

Brisbane did come into the game without starting centre Tyrell Harrison through illness which had the potential for concern with Isaac Humphries in imposing form for the Sixers.

However, Aron Baynes (10 points, eight rebounds, three assists) had a big say in limiting his impact with support from teenage Next Star Rocco Zikarsky (four points, two blocks).

It was also an even contribution in support of Sobey from the Bullets with Mitch Norton adding 15 points, six assists and five rebounds, Sam McDaniel nine points and four boards, and Casey Prather nine points and five rebounds.

The only area of concern was the continued struggles of import pair Chris Smith and Shannon Scott who combined to play just over 16 minutes for four points and taking five shots.

DJ Vasiljevic (28 points) top-scored for the Sixers but his 1-of-8 clip from long range typified a ragged perimeter shooting display from the visitors.

Trey Kell III also had a rough shooting night going 1-of-10 from the field but he did make 11-of-14 from the foul line for 13 points, 10 rebounds and three assists.

Excluding Kyrin Galloway's 3-of-5 from beyond the arc for 13 points with three blocks, Adelaide misfired at a dismal 1-of-23 from downtown.

Sobey scored Brisbane's first seven points and 12 of their first 16 to help the Bullets to a 22-20 quarter-time advantage.

Despite shooting poorly, the Sixers hung in and levelled the scores 36-all in the second before being snowed under by a Sobey-spearheaded 16-3 burst.

Galloway splashed his third three-pointer and blocked a Sobey drive to cap an 8-0 Adelaide run in response.

But Vasiljevic aside, the Sixers' offensive well began running dry, while their slack defence allowed Sobey to do as he pleased.

The bronze medal winning Olympian and former 36er poured in 15 third-term points, including a three-point dagger - his sixth on the three quarter-time siren.

Adelaide belatedly introduced renowned stopper Sunday Dech and employed a double-teaming blitz to stop Sobey from adding to his tally in the fourth but his fellow Bullets, led by Norton continued to poke holes in the dispirited and increasingly bedraggled Sixers.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 19

BRISBANE BULLETS 102 (Sobey 37, Norton 15, Baynes 10)

ADELAIDE 36ERS 84 (Vasiljevic 28, Galloway 13, Kell 13)

BOX SCORE