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Smith hits match-winner as Bullets pip JackJumpers

NBL

Chris Smith has hit the game-winning three-pointer for Brisbane to beat the visiting Tasmania JackJumpers despite the absence of star Nathan Sobey.

The Bullets prevailed 80-77 on Wednesday night for a third straight NBL win at a capacity Nissan Arena.

The JackJumpers cut a late eight-point margin, Jordan Crawford's incredible floater levelling scores with 11 seconds to play.

Smith (19 points) ran down the clock and drilled the winner, improving the Bullets to fifth (10-11), while the JackJumpers (11-10) sit third to further clog up the top-six standings.

Jack McVeigh (17 points) missed a long triple that would have sent the game to overtime, despite being able to get a shot off without being fouled in the one second that was left on the clock.

Sobey had scored 27 and 35 points in the side's past two games, both victories that have propelled the Bullets back into the conversation as legitimate threats this season.

But he was a late scratching because of a foot injury picked up on Sunday against the Kings.

Three minutes passed without a bucket in the third quarter before Crawford checked in and tried to break the stalemate.

He exploded to nail two three-pointers, then got to the foul line, but in between Tyrell Harrison (13 points, seven rebounds) had the reply at the rim for the Bullets.

It meant Brisbane clung to a two-point lead at the final break.

Harrison banked a three-pointer - the first of his NBL career - to begin the final quarter.

Smith then followed Harrison's lead, and Isaac White finished a fast break to put the Bullets up by eight.

The visitors whittled it back to one point inside the final 90 seconds, Josh Bannan's reverse lay-up releasing some pressure.

Milton Doyle calmly drilled a triple to tie the scores, but then tossed the ball away on the next possession, Bannan scoring the easy bucket to restore a two-point margin with 20 seconds on the clock.

Crawford then floated an incredible left-hander higher than the backboard to again level the scores.

Smith had the final say, winding down the clock before stepping to his right and nailing the three-pointer with just one second left on the game clock.

Bullets mid-season pick-up Casey Prather (two points) played just eight minutes as he remains on restrictions in his return from long-term injury.

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