Defence key to big win over Breakers

Adelaide 36ers head coach Mike Wells has lauded his side’s defensive effort in the fourth quarter of Saturday night’s 111-94 win against New Zealand Breakers at the Entertainment Centre.

The visitors had roared back into the contest during the third quarter to cut the home side;s lead from nine points at half time to just two points with 10 minutes to play, but Adelaide held the Breakers to just 18 points in the final stanza.

Wells said the defensive structure shown by his group in the fourth quarter was the reason the 36ers snapped a four-game losing streak.

“There was a will and there was a resolve and we stayed together,” Wells said post-game.

“We held them to an 18-point fourth quarter and that was the difference.

“They were on a scoring run, we had to change our defence a little bit.

“To go out and get that defence set like we did in that fourth quarter is the reason we won the game.”

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Wells also had high praise for import point guard Kendric Davis, who scored a game-high 36 points to go with nine assists.

‘He is a ball secure guard, he gets us into our stuff, he creates our offense, he sets our defense,” Wells said.

“There’s probably nothing more than this guy (Davis) doesn’t do. We ask him to do a lot and he carries the whole burden.”

“He’s competitive and he wants to play the whole time

Adelaide exploded in the second quarter, swishing six straight three-pointers after the Breakers changed into a zone defence.

“We are first or second for three-point shooting percentage, but we are also ninth or tenth in attempts,” Wells said.

“If you’re first or second in attempts, that means you have to shoot more.

“That started with this guy (Davis), then Nick Marshall was the benefactor of some of those in that window.”

Wells was proud of how his side responded through a match with big momentum swings, with the Breakers fighting back to get within one point (74-73) in the third quarter.

“I thought the group did a tremendous job in staying engaged in the game, there’s ebbs and there’s flows, we were playing well, then not playing well, but they stayed together,” Wells said.

“Led by KD with his 36 (points) and nine (assists), but you saw our bigs in Ice (Himphries), Jarell (Martin) and Tez (Harrell) scored 47 points.

“I was proud of the group and we did what we need to do to protect home court.”

Adelaide will be back in action next Saturday night when the 36ers travel to John Cain Arena to tackle South East Melbourne Phoenix.