Velicka to Harrison mirrors iconic NBA duo

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Utah Jazz fans had Stockton to Malone for a generation; Brisbane Bullets fans now have Velicka to Harrison, at least for the rest of NBL27.

Lithuanian point guard Arnas Velicka ($277,000) scored 23 points, 14 assists, five rebounds and just one turnover in 35:02 minutes as the Bullets overcame a slow start to beat the New Zealand Breakers 88-85 at Pat Rafter Arena on Tuesday, September 22, 2026.

Seven of Velicka's 14 assists – an NBL player debut record – went to Bullets centre Tyrell Harrison ($336,100), who finished with 22 points on 9-for-13.

"I think he's one of the best centres I've ever had as my partner," Velicka said.

"My job is easy when I have a guy like this who's going to finish every play when I get him the ball.

"Jacob (Holt) too. We worked on our pick-and-roll, and I asked him to do one thing.

"He completed it perfectly, got dunks and made good passes in the short roll.

"I think we're building. Like coach (Will Weaver) said, we're building, and we're only going to get better."

It was just one game, but the 26-year-old floor leader appears to be the real deal, and his ability to find Harrison at the rim is outstanding.

Velicka's seven assists to Harrison, in order:

• Q1 08:57 – layup
• Q1 06:47 – dunk
• Q3 08:01 – floating jump shot
• Q4 09:19 – hook shot
• Q4 08:42 – dunk
• Q4 07:57 – hook shot
• Q4 05:46 – dunk

"I really want to thank the fans," Velicka added.

"They really came out and supported us like it was a final. I felt like, from the start of the game, even an hour before the game, it was almost a packed arena. I was like, 'What is happening? Why is everybody so excited?'

"I was really impressed and really proud for the city, the guys in the team and all our staff members who created this arena.

"In the locker room, Coach said the guys worked all night yesterday to prepare this arena and this venue.

"It was really impressive, and it gave me a really great feeling about this season. I'm very excited."

The only blight on Velicka's performance was 4-for-10 from the free-throw line, including two missed free throws that would have iced the Bullets' first win.

"At the end, I missed some free throws, so I was really pissed," Velicka admitted.

"But Max made some, and we got a stop, so that's all that matters.

"Like I said, I'm really happy for the fans and the whole organisation with this win."

What you need to know

• Brisbane Bullets beat New Zealand Breakers 88-85 at Pat Rafter Arena in NBL27 Round 1.
• Brisbane trailed by seven at quarter time and seven at half time, then won the third 28-19 to lead by two and edged the fourth 23-22.
• Arnas Velicka ($277,000) had 23 points and 14 assists on 7-from-12, and Parker Jackson-Cartwright ($405,200) top-scored for the Breakers with 26 on 9-from-26.
• Brisbane won the rebounds 44-24, a margin of 20, and blocked eight shots to New Zealand's two.
• Brisbane missed 13 free throws, going 15-from-28, and still won, because New Zealand shot 14-from-37 from three and 29-from-68 overall.

Brisbane Bullets

• Arnas Velicka ($277,000) had 23 points and 14 assists on 7-from-12, including 5-from-9 from three, with five rebounds and one turnover in 35 minutes.
• Tyrell Harrison ($336,100) scored 22 on 9-from-13 with seven rebounds and four blocks, half the Bullets' total.
• Nate Hinton ($277,000) had 14 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals on 5-from-14.
• Max Mackinnon ($200,000) added nine points and seven rebounds on 3-from-5 in 31 minutes.
• Jacob Holt ($176,300) scored six on 2-from-2 with three rebounds and a block in 11 minutes off the bench.
• Jaylin Williams ($277,000) had six points and four rebounds on 2-from-6, including 1-from-5 from three.
• Lat Mayen ($69,000) scored five with five rebounds on 2-from-5 and three turnovers.
• Brisbane shot 31-from-63 from the field, 11-from-28 from three and 15-from-28 at the line, with 44 rebounds, 23 assists and 14 turnovers.

New Zealand Breakers

• Parker Jackson-Cartwright ($405,200) top-scored with 26 points and seven assists on 9-from-26, including 6-from-15 from three, in 37 minutes.
• Dejan Vasiljevic ($144,000) scored 17 on 5-from-8 with 4-from-6 from deep and 3-from-4 at the line.
• Sam Mennenga ($303,100) had 12 points and five rebounds on 4-from-13 with four turnovers.
• Mojave King scored 11 on 4-from-8, including 3-from-7 from three, in 23 minutes as an injury replacement.
• Charles Bediako ($277,000) pulled eight rebounds, the most by any Breaker, and scored six on a perfect 3-from-3.
• Carlin Davison ($121,600) scored three on 1-from-3 with two rebounds in just under 14 minutes.
• Kouat Noi ($185,100) scored three on 1-from-2 from three in five minutes off the bench.
• New Zealand shot 29-from-68 from the field, 14-from-37 from three and 13-from-20 at the line, with 24 rebounds, 15 assists and eight turnovers.