36ers overcome poor start to beat JackJumpers in NBL
A third-quarter explosion has guided the Adelaide 36ers out of some bother and to a 77-73 NBL victory over the Tasmania JackJumpers.
The Sixers (4-3) started slowly at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Sunday and were still well in arrears at half-time, before taking total control with a dominant 23-11 third term to move to fifth place and celebrate Jason Cadee’s 400th game in style.
Point guard Kendric Davis (23 points, six assists) was the 36ers’ architect, along with fellow import Montrezl Harrell (22).
Harrell last week committed to Adelaide for the rest of the season, after originally being summoned as an injury replacement for Jarell Martin, who made his long-awaited return from a foot injury.
Milton Doyle (22 points) was back to his best and almost willed the JackJumpers back into the game with a mix of long bombs and tough drives.
His triple with nine seconds left trimmed the Sixers’ lead, at one stage 63-50, to two points before Davis iced it with two free throws.
The JackJumpers burst out of the blocks, imports Jordon Crawford and Doyle instrumental in a 10-0 run that gave them a 15-4 head-start en route to a 22-13 quarter-time lead.
Tasmania’s defence continued to stymie Adelaide, highlighted by Will Magnay’s stunning block of Harrell’s attempted two-handed put-back dunk.
The reigning champions led 39-31 at the main break, the Sixers’ tally their lowest first half all year.
JackJumpers swingman Reuben Te Rangi snapped his personal slump by scoring nine first-half points, including three triples without a miss.
At the other end, league-leading scorer Dejan Vasiljevic was completely blanketed, notching two points without a field goal and three turnovers at half-time. He finished with 11 points.
After missing 11 of their 12 first-half three-point attempts, Adelaide came alive in the third term, starting it with a 7-0 flurry capped by Sunday Dech’s trey.
Vasiljevic ended his rut with a teardrop and a three-pointer, while Davis’s quick hands on defence and slick play-making were stressing the Jackies.
Adelaide pinched the lead on a Davis drive, suddenly led 54-50 at the last break and extended that to 63-50 after producing a 16-0 tear either side of three-quarter-time, then effectively warding off Tasmania’s plucky late rearguard charge.
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