Bullets upset NBL ladder leaders Wildcats

Perth had won five games on the trot and are on top of the NBL ladder but trailed at every break against Brisbane and lost.

Perrin Buford of the Bullets

Perrin Buford has finished with a game-high 24 points in Brisbane's 82-76 NBL win over Perth. (AAP)

Brisbane have upset NBL ladder leaders Perth with an 82-76 win at Perth Arena.

The Bullets led at every change on Saturday to halt the reigning premiers' five-game winning streak.

Perrin Buford was in everything for Brisbane and finished with an impressive game-high 24 points and eight rebounds when he was fouled out of the game with just less than two minutes left of the clock.

The lead was only four points when Buford received the offensive foul to send him to the bench - a charge on Wildcats 200-gamer Greg Hire - but Perth couldn't make the most of his absence.

Brisbane are enjoying a purple patch, having beaten Cairns and Sydney on the road before Saturday's game.

Dan Kickert set the tone for the visitors. The forward knocked down 16 points at 100 per cent in the opening term to give his side a 33-24 lead at the first break.

He didn't add to that tally in the second term but finished with an important 21 points, his equal best for the season.

Tom Jervis had 10 points at the main break and the Bullets led 50-47.

With captain and defensive gun Damian Martin sidelined with an ankle injury, the Wildcats took their time finding their rhythm.

It was the first time the Cats had given up 50 points in an opening half this season.

They regrouped after the break and kept Brisbane to just 12 points in the third term but could manage only 13 themselves.

Bryce Cotton added nine points in that third term and it looked as though the home side were stirring for a big final quarter.

However, Perth were unable to pull back a three-quarter-time deficit for the fourth time this season.

Brisbane coach Andrej Lemanis thought his players did well not to get distracted at important times in games, something he thinks had cost the Bullets wins in the past.

"We're starting to turn into the team we're going to be for the year," he said.

"Tonight, I thought in those critical moments, we did a good job of locking in as a team and continuing to stay present and good in that particular play.

"And we only had 12 turnovers, which is a key when you're playing Perth. They turn people over a lot."

Perth coach Trevor Gleeson was not happy.

"We allow them to come out and get free and easy, 33 points in the first quarter. I think that's close to a record against us," he said.

"Kickert had 16 in the first quarter and then Buford had nine. It's disappointing.

"Going into the last quarter, it's a one-possession game and then we have seven turnovers and we had sloppy turnovers before that. It produced 25 points from our turnovers and it's something you don't ever want to do at home."


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Source: AAP



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