Desperation comes early

IT is far too early in the NBL season for “must-win” games but tonight’s clash between Brisbane and Illawarra has a pinch of desperation about it.

The Bullets (4-6) have lost their past three while the Hawks (3-6) have been beaten in four of their past five.

They both need an elusive win to stay in touch with the top four as the star-studded trio of Perth, Melbourne and Sydney are starting to pull away.

A Brisbane win will shoot the Bullets back into fourth spot while a loss will see them fall to seventh.