In a stunning upset, the Sydney squad stormed into Brisbane’s backyard and handed the home team a decisive 91-82 defeat. The visiting team’s star player, Xavier Cooks, put on a show, racking up 23 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, leaving the Brisbane defense reeling.
The Brisbane Entertainment Centre, packed with enthusiastic fans, was electric early on, with Casey Prather’s thunderous dunk setting the tone. However, the Sydney team quickly shifted into high gear, going on an 18-point tear to silence the crowd.
Brisbane’s struggles continued throughout the first half, with 16 turnovers and lackluster defense allowing the visitors to build a commanding 20-point lead. The home team’s poor shooting, including a dismal 3-of-23 from beyond the arc, only added to their woes.
Down by as many as 29 points, Brisbane staged a late comeback, scoring the final 16 points of the contest to salvage some pride. Despite the valiant effort, the home team fell to 0-3 on the season, while Sydney improved to 3-1.
Brisbane’s James Batemon was benched for the third quarter, struggling to find his rhythm, while teammate Deng Adel failed to score in his 15 minutes on the court. In contrast, Sydney rookie Keli Leaupepe shone bright, pouring in 22 points with a mix of power and precision.
The Brisbane team will look to bounce back against South East Melbourne on Saturday, a matchup that promises to be intense, given the recent departure of long-time guard Nathan Sobey to the Phoenix.
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