Hannahs the hero as Sixers beat United in OT

After the Adelaide 36ers led most of the way, they needed a hero and it was Dusty Hannahs who got the game to overtime and then took over in the eventual 88-83 win over the league-leading Melbourne United.

Melbourne came into the game on Sunday at Adelaide Entertainment Centre in hot form sitting on top of the NBL on an eight-game winning streak, including last Saturday's 97-78 over the Sixers.

The 36ers, though, also stung by subsequent losses to the Illawarra Hawks in Wollongong and the Tasmania JackJumpers, came out a motivated force right from the gate in this one.

Despite trailing by two at quarter-time, Adelaide turned that into an eight-point half-time edge largely on the back of the 12 points on perfect shooting from Todd Withers and eight points and six rebounds in 10 minutes from Cam Bairstow.

The Sixers still led by eight at three quarter-time, but Melbourne was always going to come and the reigning champs eventually put together 10 consecutive points to lead 74-70 with a minute to go.

Enter Dusty Hannahs. He hit a massive, off-balance three from the corner that forced the game into overtime. He then took over the extra period with four massive jump shots before Kai Sotto finished the job in the mid-range for the five-point win.

It snaps a three-game losing streak for Adelaide while also seeing them stop the winning run of United at eight.

Hannahs ended up top-scoring in the game for the 36ers with 19 points in just 19 minutes on 7/12 shooting from the floor and 4/4 at the foul line. He had 11 of his 19 points in just over the last five minutes.

Before fouling out, Todd Withers was important for the Sixers with 17 points and five rebounds with Cam Bairstow again huge with 16 points, 12 rebounds and four assists.

Daniel Johnson put up 12 points and 12 rebounds, Kai Sotto 12 points and four boards, Sunday Dech three points and three assists, Mitch McCarron three points, seven rebounds and four assists, and Tad Dufelmeier three points.

Sixers coach CJ Bruton said Hannahs had kept faith in his shooting skills and was ready when called on for the last play and overtime.

"He needs some time to find his groove and there's certain things that we've been trying to work to work through as a group to give him opportunities to go do his thing," Bruton said.

"He has kept his confidence and faith and when I called his number that last time out, he was good to go and we put the ball in his hands and you will get to see what he's capable of. With 19 points in 19 minutes, he’s put everyone on notice."

Sixers guard Sunday Dech said his side took pride in their defensive efforts to keep Chris Goulding to 0/16 shooting.

"It’s a huge win. I think we haven't really been playing our best basketball, only in patches," he said.

"I think we took a good hard look at ourselves yesterday in film review on Saturday and drew the line in the sand to where we wanted to be as a team and where we wanted to go and I think that was evident in our intensity and our pressure. 

"We beat United but we're sure we can beat anyone in any given night."

Cam Bairstow continued his good form putting up Adelaide's first two buckets of the game before Todd Withers knocked down a three ball for the 7-5 lead. Kai Sotto then came on and made an immediate impact with a strong finish inside and a couple of free-throws.

Sotto added another two at the line to close the opening quarter with Melbourne only narrowly leading 19-17.

It was then a hot opening to the second quarter from Adelaide. They played some strong defence up one end and then at the other they scored the opening nine points including a couple more baskets to Bairstow, one to Daniel Johnson and a three-pointer to Withers.

Then in response to Melbourne scoring five points, Johnson hit a three and Withers had a good finish inside. Tad Dufelmeier would convert an and-one play too and the Sixers were on top 38-30 at the major break.

When Withers knocked down three free-throws the Adelaide lead was out to 10 early in the second half. Melbourne was always going to fire back and it was Jack White leading their charge with eight quick points before the Sixers got a steadier when Sotto delivered a reverse jam on Mitch McCarron's alley-oop.

Sotto would convert a three-point play later in the third quarter and then four free-throws to Dusty Hannahs helped Adelaide maintain the 59-51 advantage by three quarter-time. 

Hannahs extended Adelaide's lead to 10 to start the fourth quarter before Melbourne scored the next six points. Bairstow steadied the 36ers as did Johnson before a huge triple from McCarron had his team up 70-64 against his old squad with three minutes to go.

Things got tough from there for Adelaide and United hit the next 10 points including dagger threes from Jack White and Shea Ili to take the lead and be up four with a minute ago.

However, it came down to Hannahs knocking down a massive corner three like only he can with 13 seconds remaining and the game went to overtime.

While Melbourne scored first in the extra period, it was all Adelaide from there starting with a Hannahs jumper. Dech then hit a deep, deep two, Johnson scored inside and then two huge shots from Hannahs again show the ice in his veins and he helped the Sixers to the critical five-point win.

The Sixers remain at home to be back at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Thursday night against the Brisbane Bullets.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 9

ADELAIDE 36ERS 88 (Hannahs 19, Withers 17, Bairstow 16)

MELBOURNE UNITED 83 (Lual-Acuil 23, White 18, Peatling 11) 

BOX SCORE