A jump shot from Ebi Ere with nine seconds remaining lifted the Brisbane Bullets to a thrilling 110-109 NBL win over the hapless South Dragons at Vodafone Arena in Melbourne.

The Dragons had one last chance to break their duck but failed to get a decent shot off before time expired, with Joe Ingles' rushed effort from the top of the key barely grazing the rim.

The result condemns South to the NBL cellar with an 0-6 win-loss record and spoiled their player-coach Shane Heal's 400th game celebrations.

The Bullets held a 90-88 advantage at three-quarter time, but the Dragons immediately erased the deficit and, riding the hot hand of Cortez Groves, stormed to the front.

The home side led by as many as six down the stretch and were a point up inside the final 30 seconds but the Bullets, through Ere (34 points), CJ Bruton and Sam Mackinnon (24 each), pulled through to move to a 6-1 win-loss record.

The Dragons have been outscored in the final quarter in each of their six losses.

Groves led all scorers with a game-high, personal-high and Dragons franchise-high 44 points, including a spectacular eight-of-14 from long-range.

Defence was a dirty word in the second period as the teams exploded on offence and combined for 72 points.

The second-quarter statistics from beyond the arc made gaudy reading - the Dragons went seven from eight from long range, Brisbane countered with a still spectacular seven-of-13 - as the lead changed 10 times in the 12-minute period.

It was Ere, who had 20 points in the quarter and 28 at the half, and the Dragons' Groves (19 and 26) that led the way.

Brisbane guard CJ Bruton said the Bullets needed to play better on defence if they wanted to contend for another title.

"Our last five games we haven't done that. If we're going to compete for a championship, you can't afford to give up points like that," Bruton said.

His coach Joey Wright agreed, saying: "We're not playing near the basketball we played at the same period of time (last year) on the defensive end.

"Offensively we're a little better but that don't mean anything if we don't slow teams up," Wright added.

Dragons playing-coach Heal said the team lacked a hard edge out on the court, which has proved costly in the past three weeks.

"Unfortunately we've done everything but win the game in three games straight," Heal said.

"When it comes down to it we have got to make big plays on the defensive end.

"It's a hardness that we just don't have right now."

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