A three-point clinic has helped the Bullets shoot down the Melbourne Tigers 113-93 in game three of the NBL grand final series in Brisbane.

It gave Brisbane a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series and put the Bullets within one victory of their first title in 20 years.

No team had converted a halftime lead into victory in the series - until the match.

After breaking that hoodoo following a three-point display from Stephen Black and Adam Gibson, the Bullets now have a more significant milestone in their sights - their first NBL championship since 1987.

The Tigers will travel to Melbourne for game four on Friday night with their tails between their legs knowing yet another slip up will kill off their campaign for back-to-back titles.

Down 10 points early in the first quarter, Brisbane hit back to lock it up 24-24 by the opening break, kick it out to an 11 point halftime lead and enjoy a 12 point buffer by the last break.

However, something special was still needed to deliver the killer blow to the Tigers who kept coming in the fourth, cutting the deficit to just six.

Enter Black and Gibson.

Black sprayed three bombs and bench guard Gibson another two to bring the delirious 7539-strong faithful to their feet.

Black finished with a game high 24 points - 12 in the fourth quarter alone - while newly crowned Most Valuable Player Sam Mackinnon helped himself to 19 points and nine assists.

Key Brisbane guard CJ Bruton suffered what is believed to be a hyper-extended knee after heavy contact with Tigers centre Chris Anstey mid-way through the third quarter but returned in the fourth term.

Brisbane import Dusty Rychart - who hit "rock bottom" after a scoreless game two - bounced back with 17 points - all in the first half.

For Melbourne, Dave Thomas had 19 points after overcoming a knee niggle while Stephen Hoare (14 points) and Rashad Tucker (12 points) were also impressive.

Former NBA centre Chris Anstey was unusually quiet, notching nine points after a scoreless first half.

After the Tigers reeled in an early eight point second quarter deficit, a Rychart-inspired Brisbane helped themselves to a 55-44 halftime buffer capped by a Black three-pointer on the buzzer.

Anstey finally broke his duck when he opened the third quarter scoring but it was another who had not notched a basket by the main break who proved the difference in the term.

Brisbane guard Ebi Ere - uncharacteristically quiet in the first half - poured in nine third term points, including a sizzling dunk and towering three, to hand the Bullets a 77-65 lead at the final break.

Meanwhile, there could be a sequel to an alleged second quarter incident in which Brisbane forward Dillon Boucher appeared to kick Daryl Corletto in the head while scrapping for the ball.

"To me if it's a foul call a foul. You kick someone in the face... you should be thrown out of the game - rules are rules," Tigers coach Al Westover said.

"I don't want to point the finger at the referees but we were frustrated by a lot of calls and interpretations."

After snapping Brisbane's record 21-match winning run last Sunday night in game two in Melbourne, Westover was confident of forcing the series into a fifth game decider.

"We plan to be back here on Sunday," he said.

Bullets coach Joey Wright believed Bruton would back up for game four in Melbourne on Friday night.

Bruton summed up Brisbane's desperation when he dived for the ball, crashing into Anstey.

At one stage in the first half the Bullets had three players sliding for the ball as they tried to shrug off the "soft" tag Wright gave them after game two.

Wright said three players including Ere told him pre-match there would be no repeat of their game two meltdown and lived up to their promise.

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