36ers stun the world with Phoenix win

Adelaide 36ers shocked the basketball world at the Footprint Center with a 134-124 win against the Phoenix Suns.

The 36ers became the first non-NBA team to win a pre-season game since Fenerbachce beat Brooklyn Nets in October, 2015.

Phoenix, playing in their first game since their 2022 playoff exit, had their regular starter Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Miles Bridges, Cam Johnson and DeAndre Ayton open the game.

Booker got the scoring started with a tough drive to the hoop, then Ayton scored down low.

Adelaide’s seven-time club MVP Daniel Johnson then showed why he is one of the best scorers in the NBL, connecting on his first two shots, including a triple, and when Antonius Cleveland connected from downtown, Adelaide lead 8-4.

Johnson hit his second three-pointer to give the 36ers their second lead at 11-10.

Ayton did what he pleased on the low block and his pick ‘n’ roll play with Paul caused easy baskets.

The 36ers stuck to their game plan and the three-pointers continued to drop, Anthony Drmic and Sunday Dech connecting from long range as Adelaide built a 29-24 lead.

When Drmic found Kai Sotto on the quarter time buzzer for a slam dunk, the 36ers had a 33-28 advantage.

Craig Randall II then caught fire, hitting back-to-back three-pointers and when Robert Franks hit back-to-back three-pointers, the 36ers lead was 48-35.

Paul picked up his fourth personal foul midway through the second quarter and Adelaide’s lead increased to 15 points.

The Suns then went back to Ayton, who continued his inside dominance, and when Cam Johnson had a highlight tip jam, CJ Bruton was forced into a time out.

Phoenix then turned up the heat, three-pointers from Bridges and a highlight dunk from Booker cut the Adelaide lead to six points.

Costly turnovers in the backcourt haunted Adelaide, but the 36ers steadied late to take a 71-59 lead into the main break.

After scoring 15 points in the opening half, Johnson went down with an ankle sprain in the first play of the second 24 minutes.

Phoenix came out and scored the first six points, but Adelaide continued their three-point hot streak, Franks and Randall II hitting from deep, but Ayton continued his inside dominance as the 36ers lead was cut to 78-72.

Booker started to take over, and the Suns turned up the heat as Adelaide’s shooting cooled off, turnovers mounted up and the 36ers lead was cut to 84-83.

But Adelaide showed poise, led by captain Mitch McCarron, to take a 96-90 lead into the final quarter.

Randall II then set the Footprint Center alight as Adelaide got up 107-97, but that’s when the Suns came alive.

Team fouls cost the 36ers dearly, the Suns living at the free throw for the final six minutes of the contest.

Free throws from Jock Landale cut the lead to 111-107, but Franks stepped up with a tough basket and another three for 116-109.

Franks hit his sixth three-pointer of the night and Adelaide shocked the world.

Randall II led the way with 35 points and Franks had 32 and seven rebounds.

McCarron was also inspirational with 16 assists and nine rebounds.