‘Big Three’ lift Sixers to tough NBL win over Hawks
Dejan Vasiljevic, Kendric Davis and Montrezl Harrell all fired as the Adelaide 36ers overcame a slow start in a tough 93-79 win over fellow NBL title contenders Illawarra.
The Sixers faced a double-digit deficit in the opening three minutes at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Sunday but led by quarter-time.
They never trailed from that point, with Vasiljevic (23 points, six rebounds) and Davis (16 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds) taking turns running the show.
Both combined superbly with Sixers barometer Harrell, who finished with a game-high 25 points and provided the highlights with a series of huge dunks.
Illawarra trailed by just three points with more than seven minutes left but the result gradually slipped away down the stretch.
Trey Kell (18 points) and Sam Froling (16) top-scored for the Hawks, who have now dropped three of their last four games.
The result drew Adelaide level with Illawarra on the NBL ladder, both sides with 6-4 records and firmly in playoff contention.
Momentum swings dictated the opening period as Illawarra posted the first 10 points of the game in a hot 18-6 run from the tip, immediately putting their hosts on the back foot.
But Adelaide recovered quickly and led 26-22 at quarter-time after Vasiljevic crunched Lachlan Olbrich in a physical encounter.
Vasiljevic had a game-high 15 points at the half, helping the Sixers to a 50-41 advantage as they dominated the rebound count 26-16.
Davis was a constant threat with ball in hand, regularly scoring and setting up teammates.
His neat dish to Harrell for a huge dunk, putting the Sixers up 67-53 in the third quarter, was a highlight.
Vasiljevic and Harrell went one better moments later, connecting on a huge alley-oop before the American big man stared down the Illawarra bench.
The Sixers’ lead was reduced to 76-73 early in the final quarter, but they finished strongly to seal the result as fan-favourite Harrell lapped up support from the sold-out Adelaide crowd.
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