First half blitz sparks Sixers past Phoenix

An Adelaide 36ers opening half shooting blitz has been the catalyst to a 110-85 win against South East Melbourne Phoenix at the State Basketball Centre on Wednesday night.

The 36ers scored 68 points in the first half sparked by a breakout game from power forward Kyrin Galloway.

Galloway scored 23 points on 80 per cent shooting to go with seven rebounds as the 36ers scored an all-important eighth victory of the NBL24 season.

Big man Isaac Humphries starred once again with a game-high 25 points to go with seven rebounds, while Trey Kell added 21 points with seven rebounds and four assists.

Abdel Nader scored a team-high 18 points for the Phoenix, while Mitch Creek added 14 points and Gorjak Gak combined 12 points with eight rebounds.

Galloway, who was elevated into the starting line-up for the injured Jacob Wiley, connected on the opening three-pointer of the match, then repeated the dose for the visitors second basket.

Marshall scored on a tough drive, Kell hit a triple in transition, Galloway threw down a tip jam and when Humphries scored inside, Adelaide had a 15-6 lead.

Galloway threw down another dunk as the 203cm power scored 14 points in the opening quarter as the 36ers extended their lead to 22-9.

The home side bounced back late in the opening quarter as the Phoenix hit consecutive three-pointers through Ben Ayre and Rhys Vague as Adelaide hit six of their first seven triples.

Jason Cadee ended the opening quarter with back-to-back three-pointers as the 36ers took a 34-23 lead into the first break.

Humphries started the second quarter as the main offensive focus, scoring seven points in the opening three minutes as Adelaide extended their lead to 43-27.

Cadee hit his third three-pointer of the game as the 36ers increased their defensive intensity, Adelaide going on an 11-4 run after another Humphries basket in the paint to increase the lead to 54-33.

Adelaide reduced the Phoenix to 17 points in the second quarter while Kell scored 14 points in the opening 20 minutes as the 36ers took a 68-40 lead into the main interval.

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Galloway started the second half exactly how he started the first, splashing a triple, but the Phoenix responded by going on a 8-0 run to cut the 36ers’ lead to 71-48.

Kell then scored five straight points before finding Humphries inside and when Galloway swished his fourth three-pointer, the Adelaide lead increased to 83-53.

Phoenix looked to attack the basket more in the third quarter as Adelaide looked to contain the extra push from the home side, Reuben Te Rangi connecting from half court on the buzzer but the 36ers took an 87-60 lead into the final 10 minutes.

Nader looked to lift the Phoenix to start the final quarter, taking the game on and looking to shoot his team back into the contest.

The former NBA swingman scored seven points in the first three minutes as the Phoenix reduced the Adelaide lead to 90-68.

Humphries again steadied as the visitors enjoyed their biggest win of the NBL24 campaign.

Adelaide concludes their two-game road trip on Saturday night when the 36ers play Illawarra Hawks at WIN Entertainment Centre from 7.30pm ACDT.

ADELAIDE 36ERS 110 (Humphries 25, Galloway 23, Kell 21) def SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 85 (Nader 18, Creek 14, Gak 12)  at the State Basketball Centre.

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