Match wrap: Sixers downed by Doyle dagger in dying seconds

The Adelaide 36ers have started their CODE Sports NBL Blitz campaign with a last second 100-99 point loss to Illawarra at Red Energy Arena in Bendigo on Thursday night.

New Hawk Milton Doyle hit the game winner with 1.3 seconds remaining after an entertaining and at times feisty contest.

The 36ers looked on target for a first up win to start the era under five-time championship winning coach Trevor Gleeson.

With Flynn Cameron showing what an emerging superstar he is and Bryce Cotton showing he's ready to go in NBL27, the Sixers were leading the Hawks by six inside the last 30 seconds when Nick Rakocevic scored inside.

But there was plenty of drama from there starting with a three ball out of a timeout to Illawarra for Kelan Martin.

Then on the inbounds, the Hawks trapped Cotton and he lost the dribble for Doyle to pick it up and dish off to Davo Hickey to take it hard to the rim despite the best efforts for a block by Zylan Cheatham.

It was deemed a goal tend instead along with a foul but Hickey missed the extra leaving Adelaide up one before Cheatham went 1/2 at the stripe up the other end.

That gave Illawarra the chance to snatch it and Doyle didn’t need to be asked twice, calmly dropping the winning three-pointer with 1.3 seconds on the clock for the Hawks to snatch the one-point win having outscored the 36ers 8-1 in the last 15 seconds of the game.

Both teams were close to full strength to open the Blitz with Illawarra having just about everyone available while Adelaide were only without Isaac Humphries, Bul Kuol and Matt Kenyon.

That set up a tantalising match-up and it delivered in the first quarter with 27 points apiece with Flynn Cameron having nine points already for the Sixers and Bryce Cotton six while combining to shoot 5/8 from beyond the arc.

The Hawks also went 4/6 from the outside as a team before it was 24 points to 23 in favour of Adelaide in the second term with another combined 17 points from Cameron and Cotton to see them lead narrowly 51-50 at the half.

Things stayed tight in the third quarter with Adelaide stretching the lead to 71-69 by three quarter-time with Cameron having added another seven points to already have 23 to his name after three periods with 5/8 three-point shooting.

The Sixers then looked to have the win in the bag inside the last 30 seconds before that dramatic finish from the Hawks saw them snatch the one-point victory in stunning fashion.

Despite the end result, it was a night to showcase what an emerging superstar Flynn Cameron is with the 36ers. He finished with 27 points, six rebounds and six assists with 5/10 shooting from the outside.

Bryce Cotton also had 20 points, four rebounds and three assists, Zylan Cheatham 16 points, 16 rebounds and three assists, John Jenkins III 16 points on 4/11 shooting from deep, and Nick Rakocevic 10 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals.

CODE Sports NBL Blitz

ILLAWARRA HAWKS 100 (Doyle 23, Martin 20, Hickey 12)

ADELAIDE 36ERS 99 (Cameron 27, Cotton 20, Cheatham 16, Jenkins 16)

BOX SCORE