'Walker in the park' United dispatch Bullets

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Interim head coach Darryl McDonald simply does not have enough pieces to compete and no more evidence was needed as the Brisbane Bullets wilted to Melbourne United 98-66 at Red Energy Arena in Bendigo in the first game of NBL26 Round 18 on Wednesday, January 21, 2026.

The injury list is a starting five:

• Casey Prather: Knee - Season
• Dakota Mathias: Shoulder - February
• Javon Freeman-Liberty: Hamstring - Round 20
• Lamar Patterson: Hamstring - Season
• Sam McDaniel: Calf - Round 20
• Tyrell Harrison - Concussion

Brisbane's season to forget has them cemented to the bottom of the ladder at 6-21 while United won its second straight, moving to 17-10 in fourth.

Key Details

• Result: Melbourne United 98 def. Brisbane Bullets 66
• When: Wednesday, 21st January 2026
• Where: Red Energy Arena, Bendigo
• Attendance: 3,978
• Standings

By the Numbers

Melbourne United

• Tyson Walker – 17 points on 6/8 shooting, 3/3 from three, 5 assists (+21)
• Finn Delany – 15 points, 7 rebounds, 2 threes
• Milton Doyle – 14 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists
• Chris Goulding – 13 points, 3 threes

Melbourne had seven players score 7+ points, reflecting balanced rotation scoring.

Brisbane Bullets

• Jacob Holt – 23 points on 9/10 shooting, 4/4 from three
• Hunter Maldonado – 11 points, 5 assists, 5 steals
• Terry Taylor – 5 points, 4 assists

Holt accounted for 35% of Brisbane’s total points; no other Bullet reached double figures.

What Happened

Melbourne United established complete dominance from the opening tip, never trailing throughout the contest as they led for 39 minutes and 47 seconds. The home side controlled proceedings in every quarter, opening with a 29-19 first period before extending their advantage to 57-36 at halftime. United maintained their stranglehold in the third quarter, outscoring Brisbane 24-14 to lead 81-50 entering the final period, before coasting home with a 17-16 fourth quarter to seal the comprehensive victory.

The turning point came early in the second quarter when Melbourne embarked on their biggest scoring run of 12 points, establishing a commanding lead they would never relinquish. With their largest advantage reaching 35 points, United thoroughly outclassed their opponents across all facets of the game.

Tyson Walker led Melbourne's balanced offensive attack with an outstanding performance, shooting 6-from-8 from the field including a perfect 3-from-3 from downtown. His 75% field goal efficiency was complemented by solid playmaking, dishing out five assists while committing just three turnovers. Finn Delany provided excellent support with 15 points and seven boards, while captain Chris Goulding contributed 13 points. Milton Doyle added 14 points off the bench alongside four rebounds and four dimes in a well-rounded display.

For Brisbane, Jacob Holt was exceptional in a losing cause, shooting an impressive 9-from-10 from the field including a perfect 4-from-4 from beyond the arc. However, his stellar individual performance couldn't mask his team's collective struggles. Hunter Maldonado managed 11 points but shot just 3-from-12 from the field, while also turning the ball over five times despite contributing five steals defensively.

Melbourne's superior shooting was the decisive factor in their dominant victory. United shot a solid 51% from the field compared to Brisbane's poor 37% efficiency. The hosts were particularly effective from downtown, connecting on 13-from-29 three-pointers at 45% compared to the Bullets' dismal 8-from-28 at 29%. Melbourne also controlled the charity stripe, making 11-from-22 free throws while Brisbane converted just 8-from-19 attempts.

The rebounding battle was closely contested with Melbourne securing 49 boards to Brisbane's 34, giving United a significant 15-rebound advantage. Melbourne's interior presence was evident with Jesse Edwards and Finn Delany combining for 13 rebounds, while Brisbane struggled to match their physicality in the paint. United also recorded eight steals compared to Brisbane's nine, but crucially both teams committed 14 turnovers, meaning Melbourne's superior shooting proved the difference.

This emphatic victory showcases Melbourne United's championship credentials as they delivered a complete performance on both ends of the court. The loss leaves Brisbane Bullets searching for answers as they struggled to generate consistent offense against United's stifling defence throughout the contest.