Match wrap: Hot starting Sixers hold out United in Thursday throwdown

The Adelaide 36ers have survived a second half fight back by Melbourne United to prevail 101-93 at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Thursday night.

It felt every bit like a statement game for both teams in their third meeting of NBL27 and it was the Sixers sending quite the message in the first half.

Even with six-time MVP Bryce Cotton only having five points and four assists on 2/7 shooting to half-time, Adelaide had led by as much as 34 points and was leading 59-35 at the break with four triples and 17 points from John Jenkins.

But Melbourne fired back and with Cole Anthony and Josh Oduro showing the way, had the momentum to get back within four with three minutes to play only for Cotton to then close the door.

He hit back-to-back three-pointers as part of an 8-0 and with both Anthony and Oduro fouling out in the dying minutes, Adelaide did enough to win by eight and improve to 7-6.

Jenkins ended the night with 21 points to top-score for the Sixers with Zylan Cheatham delivering 20 points, 12 rebounds and four assists, and Cotton 19 points, 10 assists and five rebounds.

Nick Rakocevic had another 15 points, nine rebounds and three assists while Flynn Cameron got through 14 minutes on return for six points and five rebounds.

United are now 7-6 as their four-game winning streak is stopped with Anthony having another eventful night for 27 points and four assists.

Oduro got going in the second half to end up with 14 points and three rebounds with Luke Travers providing 18 points, eight rebounds and three assists, Sam Waardenburg 16 points, four boards and four assists, and Chris Goulding eight points.

It was already a third meeting of the season for the two teams with no love lost between them and the 36ers came out on fire to get the sold out crowd right behind them from the get go.

The Sixers had raced out to a 27-10 lead already by quarter-time on the back of going 5/10 from the outside to 0/7 from United and that was with just the three points and three assists on 1/4 shooting from Bryce Cotton.

Zylan Cheatham had eight points and four rebounds while hitting a couple of triples for Adelaide while Melbourne were just shooting 4/17 as a team with Cole Anthony having just two points on 1/3 shooting.

Adelaide then caught fire spectacularly in the first half of the second quarter and suddenly the lead had ballooned out to 34 points and the Adelaide Entertainment Centre was deafening in their approval.

Melbourne did cut it back a little before half-time but the Sixers were still leading 59-35 with John Jenkins III going 4/6 from downtown for 17 points with Cheatham adding 13 points and eight rebounds.

Cotton still had just the five points and four assists while opposed to him, Anthony had 11 points on 4/11 shooting for Melbourne but still they were only going 2/16 from the outside as a team.

United were able to breathe life back into the game in the third quarter and ended up with 27 points to 21 with Anthony scoring 12 of those points, but he was also on four fouls by three quarter-time.

The 36ers were still leading 80-62 by three quarter-time after Chris Goulding halfcourt buzzer beater didn’t do that – and was just after time expired.

Melbourne had warmed to the task, though, and suddenly with three minutes left in the game were all the way back within four with Josh Oduro getting going after having just four points and a rebound in the first half.

But Adelaide responded with back-to-back Cotton three-point daggers before Jenkins completed the 8-0 run that ended up being enough for the Sixers to secure the eight-point win even though Melbourne fought it out right to the death.

The 36ers now don't play again until next Thursday night on the road to the Illawarra Hawks while United back up on Saturday night in a Throwdown against the South East Melbourne Phoenix.

ADELAIDE 36ERS 101 – MELBOURNE UNITED 93

Adelaide 36ers
John Jenkins III – 21 points, 4/9 3PT
Zylan Cheatham – 20 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals
Bryce Cotton – 19 points, 10 assists, 5 rebounds
Nick Rakocevic – 15 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists
Matt Kenyon – 8 points, 3 rebounds, 2/3 3PT

Melbourne United
Cole Anthony – 27 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds
Luke Travers – 18 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists
Sam Waardenburg – 16 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds
Josh Oduro – 14 points, 3 rebounds
Chris Goulding – 8 points, 2 steals

BOX SCORE

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