A classy performance from US import Vic Law has powered the Brisbane Bullets to a 97-91 NBL Cup victory over the Illawarra Hawks.
Bouncing back from a rough outing against South East Melbourne in his last start, Law proved the difference at John Cain Arena on Friday night as he top-scored for the game with 29 points and added nine rebounds.
"Tonight I made a point that I was going to come out, be aggressive whether I was shooting or just attacking the defence and drawing two (opponents) and get my teammates involved," Law said after Brisbane recorded their first win of the NBL Cup.
"I just had to put my stamp on this one and get a Bullets win."
Both teams established double-digit leads at various stages but the Bullets held firm in the final quarter thanks to the efforts of Law and Nathan Sobey (18 points, six assists).
Hawks import Justinian Jessup landed four three-pointers in his 26-point haul, including a jump shot to hand his side a 91-89 lead heading into the final minute.
But after Harry Froling levelled the scores and both teams missed chances to hit the go-ahead basket, Law put the Bullets in front from the free-throw line and Jessup's game-tying lay-up was off-target.
The Bullets then iced the game from the foul line as the Hawks (6-4) continue to struggle for consistency following their 4-0 start to the season.
"We are just not playing with the energy, the passion or the communication that we had in those first four games," coach Brian Goorjian said.
"We got opportunities there in the third and the fourth (quarters) ... we got out on the break and our decision-making was horrendous."
Brisbane's game plan focused on containing Hawks' Tyler Harvey, hoping to avoid a repeat of the American guard's 31-point effort against them back in round two.
The plan worked in the first half with Harvey restricted to four points but Jessup propped up Illawarra's offence by making all five shots on his way to 14 points and a 51-49 Hawks lead at halftime.
Brisbane surged ahead in the second half thanks to a 14-0 start, Law following up Sobey's opening triple with 11 consecutive points as the lead blew out to 63-51.
Harvey answered immediately with back-to-back three-pointers and Jessup poured in 10 points in a row as the Hawks regained the lead before Brisbane steadied to build a 77-71 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Australian Associated Press
