NBL27 Preview - Round 8 vs Brisbane Bullets

Melbourne United have the chance to extend their current win streak to four, and gain valuable ladder advantages in their matchup against the 6-5 Brisbane Bullets this Saturday inside John Cain Arena. 

The win would take United’s record on the year to 7-5, laying the groundwork for a chance to go on a league-best five game win streak the following fixture. 

WHAT’S THE WORD?

After practice, Melbourne United Head Coach Jacob Chance spoke on the coaching staff’s gameplan and his team’s mindset ahead of the matchup. 

“The rim's been an emphasis for us all year, both sides of the ball, and it looks like it is for Brisbane,” Chance explained. 

“The transition game for them is everything. So, can we make them play in the half-court against our set defence? Can we keep them to one possession? I think the team that does that better over the course of the game, I'm sure they're talking about our transition game too, will get rewarded.”

Off the back of three straight wins, Chance elaborated on what has been the difference as of late compared to earlier in the season. 

“We've been building nicely, albeit a couple of tight losses there,” he said. 

“I thought we played really well in Perth in a fun game against a good team. I thought we played really well in Tassie earlier in the year too and we just weren't able to get over the hump. 

“But getting some continuity within the squad, having some great practices, [have been] good learning moments for us, the most pleasing thing for me with the group so far has been when we found ourselves in situations for the second time, we’ve acted and played better.”

Bullets head coach Will Weaver, following his team’s dramatic win over the Wildcats earlier this week said, in reference to Melbourne, that he “couldn’t wait to play against the best defensive team in the competition”.

WHO’S HOT? WHO’S NOT? 

Against the Breakers, United’s league best defence showed out for all 40 minutes of the contest. In the effort, they held New Zealand to 74 points, their second lowest tally of NBL27, and swatted away eight shots, a league high in a single game for a team this season. 

Individually, Josh Oduro was brilliant, getting his third double-double of the season. This time with 17 points and 19 rebounds; the latter the second most boards any player has had in the NBL this year. 

If United look to combat the Bullets’ league best 16.9 offensive rebounds per game and dominant interior presence, Oduro will have to be a major factor in the process.

As a team, United has put together their best offensive stretch of the year over the past three games, averaging 104 points per game on 50% shooting from the field. 

From deep, they’ve also been in their best form, making 11 a game on a 38% clip; 4% better than their league worst 34% in rounds one through five. 

Brisbane clean the glass better than anybody in the competition at the moment, and as a result, have the most points in the paint and second chance points per game. Much of this action comes at the hands of their veteran big man Tyrell Harrison, who leads the team in rebounding and is second in scoring. 

Defensively, the boys in blue will have to lock up Harrison if they want to end the week with a win.

If the Bullets have a weakness to exploit, it's their carelessness with the ball. They currently turn the ball a hair less than 15 times a game, which is the most in the league. 

United, through their first 11 games, have the second most points off turnovers in the competition with 9.9 per game. 

If Melbourne continue to be prolific off of turnovers, and the Bullets continue to turn the ball over, security of possessions will likely play a major factor in Saturday’s contest. 

DETAILS 

Who: Melbourne United vs Brisbane Bullets

Tip-off: 7:30pm AEST, Saturday November 8th, 2026

Where: John Cain Arena, Melbourne

Watch: ESPN via Disney+ and Kayo, or Channel 9 and 9NOW

General Reserve Tickets are now 30% off: Here via AXS

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