36ers take win from the west

Adelaide 36ers have got their NBL23 season back on level terms with a 96-82 win against Perth Wildcats at RAC Arena on Thursday night.

Playing a third consecutive game on the road, the 36ers began with a renewed focus at both ends of the court, the Adelaide starters forcing Perth coach John Rillie to go to his bench early.

Robert Franks, who had a game-high 21 points, again picked up two quick fouls, but the Adelaide offense had an inside focus, and when the 201cm power forward connected from beyond the arc, the 36ers had a 22-11 lead.

Wildcats guard Corey Webster kept the home side in the contest with some sweet shooting, scoring eight first quarter points as Adelaide took a 26-17 lead.

Antonius Cleveland (16 points, five rebounds) threw down a slam dunk and Franks started to get involved heavily as Adelaide built a 12-point lead in the second quarter.

Perth cut the lead to six points, but the 36ers responded and when Cleveland found Franks with a sweet behind the back pass for a highlight jam, Adelaide’s lead was 50-37.

The 36ers kept pushing the ball at every opportunity and went into the main break with a 13-point lead.

Franks three-point play to start the third quarter as the 36ers lead went out to 16 points, but the home side responded to go on a 12-0 run to cut the lead back to four at 59-55.

Bryce Cotton started to ignite the crowd with some tough baskets as the Adelaide offense began to become stagnant.

But the 36ers responded, Cleveland and Drmic sparking Adelaide back to life as the lead went back out to nine points (64-55) as Nick Marshall made his mark on the contest.

The local product swished a three and increased the Adelaide defensive intensity as the 36ers went into the final 10 minutes with a 75-60 lead.

Adelaide extended its defensive pressure as Marshall continued to be a spark as the 36ers lead grew to 18 points with just under nine minutes left.

Cotton again sparked the home side, swishing a three-pointer, then dishing to Brady Manek for a dunk to reduce Adelaide’s lead to 85-72.

A Daniel Johnson three-pointer after a CJ Bruton time out was the settler and Adelaide went home with a 5-5 record.

Franks combined his 21 points with eight rebounds, Johnson had 17 points with eight rebounds, while Anthony Drmic finished with 14 points, six assists and three rebounds. 

ADELAIDE 36ERS 96 (Franks 21, Johnson 17, Cleveland 16) def PERTH WILDCATS 82 (Cotton 17, Webster 14, Manek 11) at RAC Arena. 

 BOX SCORE