Lots to like from Sixers despite the heartbreak

For the second time in six days the Adelaide 36ers leave John Cain Arena devastated and this time it's after an overtime loss to the South East Melbourne Phoenix where they did so much right for so much of the game.

Just six days ago at the same Melbourne venue, it was simply a tale of two halves. The 36ers were brilliant in the first half to lead the Perth Wildcats by as much as 26 points before being blown away after half-time to close the NBL Cup with that frustrating loss.

It could be simply broken up into a game of two halves, though, but it was a totally different case on Saturday against the Phoenix with the 36ers dominating most of the contest and playing in a fashion that had so much to be impressed about with it.

The 36ers took the lead a minute into the game on a Keanu Pinder triple and never trailed until overtime except for a matter of seconds shortly before half-time. The Sixers led by five at quarter-time before scoring the first seven points of the second term and still leading by five at half-time.

Unlike Sunday when the Wildcats scored 19 straight points to start the second half, it was the 36ers who came out the better this time with an 11-2 run to lead by 14. 

Brandon Paul then delivered a monstrous final quarter in his second NBL game. He put up 15 points in the quarter including a three ball that put Adelaide up seven with 1:35 remaining.

But things fell apart from there. South East Melbourne scored the last seven points of regulation to force overtime, and there the Phoenix outscored the 36ers 14 points to seven to win 96-89.

The result is not something anyone comes away happy with and the last six minutes of the game will take some time to get over, but the fact remains up to that point the 36ers did so much that was impressive.

Paul ended up with 20 points, three assists and two rebounds for Adelaide to top-score once again in his second appearance. He shot 4/9 from three-point range.

Josh Giddey flirted with a triple-double again with 15 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists but he did roll his ankle late and will face a nervous wait to see how it pulls up.

Sunday Dech continued his strong form at both ends with another 13 points, three rebounds and two steals.

Daniel Johnson battled hard for another 15 points, three rebounds and two assists with Tony Crocker contributing 10 points and two boards, Jack McVeigh 10 points, three rebounds and two assists, and Keanu Pinder six points before fouling out late in regulation.

Sixers coach Conner Henry was frustrated with what he saw in the fourth quarter as his team let another winning position slide.

"Going into the fourth quarter we were right there and we talked about it, and addressed our starts and our finishes so it's tough," Henry said. 

"It's tough when there's 15 offensive rebounds and you've only got 10 turnovers going into the fourth, and then you turn it over seven times. I think there was four in the first six possessions to really give them a lot of life so we're back here in not a very good spot."

It was too early for Henry to have an update on Giddey's ankle post-match.

"I really don't know how Josh is yet. I asked Pearl (assistant coach Jamie Pearlman) if he knew anything and he thought it was his ankle but I don’t know the severity of it."

Adelaide started well with Tony Crocker knocking down a couple of mid-range jumpers and Keanu Pinder hitting two triples in the first three minutes.

Sunday Dech then got rolling as the 36ers led 18-12 before Josh Giddey hit a triple, and Jack McVeigh made consecutive buckets for a 25-20 lead at quarter-time.

Adelaide continued the momentum into the second quarter with the opening seven points to lead by 12 but the Phoenix fired back with their own run of 15-3 to gain a brief lead. It only lasted a manner of seconds with Giddey and Johnson closing the half strongly with the Sixers up 47-42.

Starting the second half well wasn’t a problem this time around for the 36ers either. Giddey came out with four quick points, Crocker nailed a couple of jumpers and Dech drained a three ball to make it a 14-point ball game.

But again South East Melbourne responded to close the quarter on a 15-4 run to close Adelaide's lead to three.

Brandon Paul opened up the furth quarter with a three ball. He would go on to hit three more of them in the period and it was Adelaide on track to win up 82-75 when he connected from deep with a minute and-a-half left.

But the Phoenix had other ideas and scored the next seven points to draw level. The 36ers still had a chance to snatch it and Paul took a three, but it fell short and the game went into overtime for the second time this season between the clubs.

The less said about those five minutes the better with the Phoenix ended up on top outscoring the 36ers 14 points to seven.

The Sixers now head straight on a plane to Perth to take on the Wildcats on Monday night.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 10

ADELAIDE 36ERS 89 (Paul 20, Giddey 15, Johnson 15) 

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 96 (Moore 23, Wetzell 22, Adnam 13, Gliddon 13)

BOX SCORE