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MELBOURNE - The Brisbane Bullets have stamped themselves serious Australian National Basketball League title challengers.
They beat the champion Melbourne Tigers at home for the first time in nearly a year at the end of a torturous road trip.
The Bullets knocked over the Tigers in double overtime 120-117 in Melbourne, ending an away treble following wins against high-flying Perth and the South Dragons in Melbourne.
Brisbane now have an 8-3 win-loss record and have won five in succession, with coach Joey Wright paying tribute to his side's determination and ability to keep fighting through fatigue.
"We obviously were tired. There's no way you play three games in four days and travel like you do and don't be tired, but it just showed the character of the guys to stand there and get it done," Wright said.
The Tigers were seeking to equal the record for home wins of 20 set by the Adelaide 36ers in 1986, but now slip to 6-4 following a surprise 21-point midweek loss to New Zealand.
The Sydney Kings have moved into second place with a 7-3 win-loss record after a convincing 116-97 victory over Townsville on Friday. Kings import Rodney Elliott finished with a game-high 22 points in Sydney's third straight win.
Meanwhile, South Dragons player-coach Shane Heal will be free to play for his side against the Kings in Melbourne tonight despite a fighting charge hanging over his head.
Heal and Brisbane's Sam Mackinnon were ejected for fighting in the final quarter of last Friday's match, but will not face a tribunal until at least tomorrow.
The pair fell to the floor at Vodafone Arena grappling with each other. Mackinnon then shoved Heal's head into the floor, sparking a short all-in wrestling match, before the referees ejected them.
Heal played down the incident.
"I've had harder wrestles with my wife," he said. "We [the Dragons] have to make a statement and we have to be physical. I felt like [Brisbane] were more physical."
The Dragons had earlier in the round posted their second successive win, beating Townsville 111-98 midweek.
In other round seven matches, Adelaide beat West Sydney 116-114 in Sydney last Friday but lost 99-90 to the Breakers at home on Saturday night. Cairns Taipans beat Singapore 98-90, while Wollongong edged Townsville 113-107 in Wollongong.
- AAP
