'No brotherhood': Hapless Bullets lose 6th straight

• The Brisbane Bullets fell to their sixth straight loss in an 86-62 defeat at the hands of the Perth Wildcats
• Brisbane shot just 34% from the field and 25% from the three-point line
• Ben Henshall led the way for the Wildcats with 15 points

Pressure is continuing to mount on the Brisbane Bullets and rookie coach Stu Lash after putting in one of the worst offensive performances since the franchise returned to the NBL in 2016 in an 86-62 loss to the Perth Wildcats at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

Needing a win following five consecutive losses, things didn't get easier for the Bullets in the lead-up with NBA G League sharpshooter Dakota Mathias ruled out for six to eight weeks with a shoulder injury but that did not excuse the performance that followed.

Brisbane were without direction on both ends of the floor but in particular, lacked any spark or creativity on the offensive end, playing into the hands of the Wildcats, who played below-par basketball despite the 24-point win.

The loss was made even worse by the body language and effort given by many Bullets players with NBL sideline commentator Ariana Prather, who is the wife of injured Brisbane import Casey Prather, pointing out there was "too much bickering" and not enough "brotherhood" within the Bullets group.

Now sitting at 5-13, the season is all but done for the Bullets once again.

The only bright spot for the Bullets was the non-stop effort of reserve big man Jacob Holt, who was easily Brisbane's best.

Key Details

• Result: Perth Wildcats 86 def. Brisbane Bullets 62
• When: Saturday, 14th December 2025
• Where: Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane
• Attendance: 5,167
• Standings: Perth Wildcats | Brisbane Bullets

By the Numbers

• Ben Henshall (Perth Wildcats) starred with 15 points, two rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 22 minutes.
• Terry Taylor (Brisbane Bullets) scored 18 points, and had eight rebounds in 34 minutes.

What Happened

The Wildcats established early control and never relinquished their grip on the contest, systematically building their advantage across all four quarters. Perth opened with a nine-point lead after the first period, leading 22-13, before extending their dominance in the second quarter with a stellar 27-21 period that put them ahead 49-34 at halftime.

The visitors maintained their momentum throughout the third quarter, outscoring Brisbane 16-15, and closed out the contest with a commanding 21-13 final period to secure the comprehensive 24-point victory.

Perth's offensive efficiency proved the decisive factor, with the Wildcats shooting a solid 41% from the field compared to Brisbane's dismal 35% shooting performance. The visitors' ability from downtown was particularly impressive, connecting on 11 triples at a 30% clip, while the Bullets managed just five three-pointers from 20 attempts at a poor 25% rate.

Perth's superior ball movement was evident in their 14 assists compared to Brisbane's nine, showcasing the team-oriented approach that defined their performance.

Ben Henshall led Perth's balanced scoring attack with 15 points on efficient 6-from-11 shooting, including 2-from-6 from deep. David Duke Jnr contributed 14 points with outstanding 45% field goal shooting, while Elijah Pepper and Dylan Windler each added 11 and 10 points respectively.

The Wildcats' depth was on full display with four players reaching double figures, demonstrating the full team effort that overwhelmed Brisbane's defence throughout the contest.

For Brisbane, Terry Taylor provided the lone bright spot with an impressive 18-point performance on outstanding 8-from-14 shooting, including 2-from-5 from three-point range. However, his efforts were undermined by the lacklustre performances from his teammates, with Alex Ducas and Tyrell Harrison each managing just 10 points despite significant playing time. The Bullets' struggles were epitomised by captain Mitch Norton's disappointing four-point outing on poor 1-from-6 shooting.

Perth's dominance extended beyond the offensive end, with the Wildcats controlling the boards 49-43 despite playing away from home. Their defensive intensity forced Brisbane into 16 turnovers compared to their own 11, while the visitors' rim protection was solid with six blocks to Brisbane's five.

The comprehensive nature of Perth's victory positions them well in the NBL standings, while Brisbane will need to regroup quickly to avoid falling further behind in what appears to be a challenging campaign.