Brisbane bigs Tyrell Harrison and Jacob Holt have suffered nasty ankle injuries within 80 seconds of each other, souring the Bullets' drought-breaking 115-105 NBL victory over struggling South East Melbourne Phoenix.
The 214cm Harrison rolled his left ankle with 5:36 remaining in Thursday night's clash at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, soon after his back-up, 208cm Holt, also rolled his left ankle when he landed awkwardly on Phoenix import Skylar Mays' foot.
Emerging superstar Max Mackinnon racked up 24 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for Brisbane, who had seven players score in double-digits as they snapped a three-game losing streak.
For ninth-ranked Phoenix, Angus Glover poured in 27 points off the bench and Mays added 20.
SEM were without centre Jordan Hunter, missing his first ever game in Phoenix colours following the birth of his son, and his absence told in the rebound count, dominated by the Bullets 47-30.
With Brisbane's Lithuanian import Arnas Velicka (quad) joining luckless Sam McDaniel (calf) on the long-term injury list, veteran Mitch Norton was promoted to start at point guard in his 400th game.
Paced by sharpshooter Mackinnon, Brisbane picked holes in SEM's defence and led 30-24 at quarter-time.
The Phoenix, renowned for their three-point-heavy approach, staged a second-quarter fightback by instead attacking the cup.
Nathan Sobey, who scored all 15 of his points in the first half, helped the Phoenix slash the deficit to 56-55 at the long break.
SEM made a horror start to the third stanza, coughing up a string of sloppy turnovers to fall further behind, 80-65.
Worse still, a groggy Tanner Krebs had to be helped to the bench after being accidentally elbowed in the head by Phoenix teammate Yannis Morin, before Sobey spent some time off after copping a corked leg from Norton.
Krebs and Sobey were able to return to the fold as Mays piloted another SEM fightback, closing to 81-78, before Brisbane safely warded them off.