Goulding sparks United as Adams’ 29 can’t save Bullets

• ‍Chris Goulding scores 22 in 19 minutes to pace United as Jaylen Adams erupts for 29 off the Bullets bench
• United lead 31–16 after one and withstand late Bullets surge while Brisbane commits 20 turnovers in nine-point home loss
• Bullets wing Alex Ducas exits early with an ankle issue for Brisbane

Chris Goulding's 22-point in just 19 minutes put the Brisbane Bullets to the sword as Melbourne United withstood a fourth-quarter Bullets comeback to win 95-86 at Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Round 5 of NBL26.

Goulding was 8-from-16 from the field and 3-from-10 from deep in 19:11 minutes.

It was Bullets forward Lamar Patterson's 100th NBL game, a milestone he celebrated with Bullets head coach Stu Lash in the post game press conference.

"Brisbane’s been home since the day I first stepped here in 2018," Patterson said.

"Just being back in front of the fans, being back on the team — it means the world to me.

"It wasn’t the result we wanted, but I think we showed we’ve got a lot of fight, a lot of grit today.

"We came out in that fourth quarter and we were throwing punches back at them, so it’s definitely good signs going forward.

"Getting back in front of the Bullets fans was amazing."

Patterson earned his second shot at the NBL after an outstanding season in the 2025 NBL1 North Men's Conference.

Lash admitted the long-haul road trip to Perth on Wednesday took its toll on his team.

"You always look at the positives, especially when there’s such a fight to get back in the game," he said.

"I thought we were a little flat — tough trip coming home from Perth, maybe that had a little bit to it.

"We lose Alex early in the game; anytime a guy who plays a pivotal role goes out so quick, it throws off the rhythm — game plan, matchups — and we’re scrambling.

"Melbourne’s so good at taking advantages when they present themselves.

"Once we settled, we win the second half, and we’re down three in the second quarter. It’s just that early run. It’s tough, puts us behind. But I couldn’t be happier with the fight of the group."

Ducas played just two minutes before leaving the game with an ankle issue.

Former NBL MVP Jaylen Adams came off the bench for the second time in row but he was in a statement-making mood. He had game-high 29 points on a red-hot 10-from-15 from the field in 31 minutes including 4-from-6 threes.

"People forget — he’s a former MVP of this league," Lash said.

"He knows big moments, when players need to step up. Had a really good chat with him before the game — where his mindset was and what we needed.

"He’s a rhythm player and just hasn’t found it yet. We’ve had so many lineup changes — guys in and out, different roles.

"He’s a baller, but he’s not this uber-alpha who always wants to do it himself — his natural inclination is to make plays for others, then seize the moment when needed.

"We saw flashes at home against Tassie, even the first game against New Zealand — wasn’t scoring but was spraying the ball.

"Confidence is important. Hopefully he takes from tonight that this is what we need from him.

"We got really good games from Casey and Tai and Jaylen; put ourselves in position to win. We could have easily packed it in mid-third or early fourth. Didn’t.

"That shows our resiliency. I’m happy for Jaylen — it’s been a tough couple of weeks finding his footing, but he responded big-time tonight."

Key Details

• Result: Melbourne United 95 def. Brisbane Bullets 86
• When: 17th October 2025
• Where: Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Chris Goulding (Melbourne United) starred with 22 points, four rebounds, two assists and one steal in 19 minutes.
• Jaylen Adams (Brisbane Bullets) scored 29 points, and had three rebounds, five assists, one steal and two blocks in 31 minutes.

What Happened

Melbourne United established dominance early, racing to a commanding 31-16 first-quarter lead. They maintained their advantage through the second period, outscoring Brisbane 24-21 to take a comfortable 55-37 halftime lead. The Bullets showed signs of life in the third, narrowly winning the quarter 17-15, but still trailed by 16 points heading into the final frame.

Brisbane mounted a spirited comeback in the fourth quarter, outscoring United 32-25 behind Jaylen Adams' hot shooting. Adams finished with a game-high 29 points on an efficient 10-from-15 from the field, including 4-from-6 from beyond the arc. Despite the rally, Melbourne's early cushion proved too substantial to overcome.

Casey Prather contributed 26 points and seven rebounds for Brisbane, while Tyrell Harrison added 16 points on 7-from-10 shooting along with 11 rebounds and three blocks. However, the Bullets were plagued by 20 turnovers, which Melbourne converted into crucial points throughout the contest.

For Melbourne, Chris Goulding delivered a vintage performance with 22 points in just 19 minutes, while Milton Doyle added 17 points and Tanner Krebs chipped in 16 on an impressive 7-from-10 shooting. Tyson Walker orchestrated the United defense with eight steals, helping Melbourne force the Bullets into miscues that ultimately decided the game.

The visitors shot 44 percent from the field (33-from-75) and 33.3 percent from three-point range (13-from-39), while Brisbane connected on 49.2 percent of their attempts (31-from-63) but couldn't overcome their ball security issues. Melbourne's balanced attack featured six players scoring five or more points, showcasing their depth against a Brisbane side still finding its rhythm in the season opener.