Sixers celebrate homecoming with critical win

Josh Giddey returned and threatened a triple-double, Keanu Pinder delivered an encouraging performance and on his 33rd birthday, Daniel Johnson produced a master class as the Adelaide 36ers returned to the NBL winner's list on Saturday night.

It hasn’t been the best of times in between home games for the 36ers. Even that last game against the Brisbane Bullets back on February 15 wasn’t anything to have fond memories of.

But losing all but two of the last 11 away from the Adelaide Entertainment Centre meant it was a happy homecoming on Saturday night. 

Despite a scare in the third quarter, the Sixers were the better team most of the way and ended up beating Brian Goorjian's Hawks 84-72 to snap an unwanted and unwelcome five-game losing streak.

Pressure was building on the 36ers to get back to winning and while they were still well short of full strength with import forward Tony Crocker joining Isaac Humphries sidelined, Next Star point guard Josh Giddey returned and what a difference he made.

Brandon Paul also made his first start but it was the warhorse Daniel Johnson that proved impossible to stop for the Hawks. He had 14 points and eight rebounds to half-time with the 36ers building a commanding 46-32 lead.

But those horror memories of what happened against Perth came to the fore with what happened to start the second half. The Hawks came out with a 17-3 run to open the second half before then shockingly taking the lead.

However, to the full credit of the 36ers and it was sparked by some big offensive boards by Keanu Pinder, the 36ers were able to wrest back control of the game and come away with the 12-point victory in the finish.

It was Johnson's 33rd birthday and he celebrated in style by leading Adelaide to the win on the back of 26 points and 15 rebounds while hitting 2/3 from deep and 12/12 at the foul line.

Giddey made an impressive return too with 13 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists but it was far from a two-man show for the Sixers.

Keanu Pinder answered the call that the Sixers needed more from him and produced 10 points and three rebounds. While three boards doesn’t sound a lot, they were all significant ones on the offensive glass.

Brandon Paul had just the 10 points on 4/13 shooting but getting to start and play 31 minutes is a long-term investment in what he will be able to produce.

Jack McVeigh had another 10 points, five rebounds, two assists and two blocks with Sunday Dech producing eight points four steals, three assists and two rebounds, Daniel Dillon four points and four boards, and Brendan Teys three points.

Giddey said his side had to lift after the Hawks took the lead in the third term.

"We got together and said ‘this is it, we have to put our foot down now’," Giddey said.

"We executed what we drew up in time outs and got good looks then DJ got going, BP and Jack got going.

"We stamped out that run and were able to dictate what was happening."

Giddey added his side just needed a win.

"A win was all we needed to cut out the losing streak and get momentum going forward," Giddey said.

"This was a big one for us, they were a bit undermanned but we got the win. We did it in ugly style but a W is a W. We needed it."

Triples to Sunday Dech and Daniel Johnson steadied Adelaide early doors but Johnson was just warming up and already had six points with the Sixers leading 13-9 just over four minutes in.

Jack McVeigh came on to knock down three free-throws before a Josh Giddey triple saw the 36ers lead 21-17 by quarter-time.

Keanu Pinder scored six points of his own early in the second term to keep Adelaide on top before Giddey, Brandon Paul and Johnson helped the lead grow to 13 points, and then Daniel Dillon hit four quick points as the 36ers went into half-time on top 46-32.

However, the third quarter quickly resembled the game against Perth in the NBL Cup. That occasion saw the Wildcats score the opening 19 points of the second half and this time it was a 17-3 run for the Hawks as they took the lead.

But Adelaide did well to respond with a 9-0 that started with five Johnson points and then four in no time from Pinder.

The Sixers had survived the scare and were able to produce a strong fourth quarter in response. It included three balls from Dech, Giddey, Paul and McVeigh, and a three-point play from Johnson as Adelaide cruised to the 12-point win.

The 36ers remain at home now to prepare to play the Perth Wildcats next Saturday night.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 12

ADELAIDE 36ERS 84 (Johnson 26, Giddey 13, Pinder 10, McVeigh 10, Paul 10)

ILLAWARRA HAWKS 72 (Jessup 17, Naar 16, Simon 13) 

BOX SCORE