Sixers deliver best performance of NBL21 over Breakers

The Adelaide 36ers made a blistering start and went on to lead by as much as 19 points to withstand the charges still from the New Zealand Breakers to record their most emphatic win of the NBL season on Wednesday night, 88-78.

The two previous wins this season for the Sixers had come in overtime against the South East Melbourne Phoenix and then the Breakers last Friday night, but this time they thrilled the crowd of 5706 inside the Adelaide Entertainment Centre from the outset.

The 36ers scored the opening nine points of the contest before ending up lead 15-4, and then by 19 points early in the second period after Tony Crocker, Sunday Dech and Daniel Johnson all knocked down three-point bombs.

The Breakers did keep fighting to their credit and did get as close as one points during the third quarter. But the Sixers had all the answers on the despite disappointing foul shooting of 14/27 to go on and win by 10 points to improve to a 3-2 record.

There was so much to like about the all-round performance from the 36ers, but nothing better than the growing chemistry and understanding between young guns Isaac Humphries and Josh Giddey.

Their combination in the pick-and-roll worked a treat and they both ended up having a huge say in the final result.

Humphries produced another 21 points, five rebounds and four blocked shots while Giddey set the pace well, took the right shots and was outstanding in all facets to threaten a triple-double with 13 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.

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The Sixers got strong contributions from plenty other players too including Sunday Dech. Not only did he finish with 11 points, three rebounds and two steals but his defence was a big reason why Breakers star Lamar Patterson went scoreless on 0/5.

Daniel Johnson delivered another 17 points, five assists and four rebounds too for Adelaide while Tony Crocker produced 14 points, Donald Sloan nine (four assists) and Keanu Pinder three.

Sixers coach Conner Henry was delighted with the performance afterwards.

"We were a little bit concerned about them being a little bit underdone last game and then bouncing back with their legs underneath them. So I think mentally our group was really focused," Henry said.

"We had a day and-a-half basically off after Friday and then we gave the guys the scout, and this was the first game that we kind of executed on both ends the way we felt like we could. It's more of the identity that we're forming and it was a really good win from the group.

"Coming into this game I felt like our energy was really good and we withstood their run. They got on us a little in the second period when our ball movement and our pace kind of slowed down. But then we were able to talk about it at half-time and I thought for the most part we pushed the pace and that helps us."

After playing their opening four games of the season in the space of a week, the 36ers had a good break from last Friday's overtime win over New Zealand to Wednesday, and it showed from the outset.

The Sixers came out an inspired unit with the tone set with a brilliant drive and bounce pass from Josh Giddey to Isaac Humphries down low to throw it down. Daniel Johnson and Tony Crocker then scored, and Giddey knocked down the three for the 9-0 opening.

Crocker then caught fire with two more buckets to make it 13-1 and then 15-4 when Humphries scored again.

New Zealand steadied and scored the next nine points, but the 36ers then responded with the next six to still lead 21-14 by the end of one.

Humphries was then on fire to open the second quarter nailing a three and then finishing inside setting the stage for Crocker, Sunday Dech and Johnson to all hit three balls to open the game high 19-point lead.

Just when the 36ers looked to be running away with it, things dried up the last five minutes of the half with New Zealand finishing on a 14-2 run to cut Adelaide's half-time lead to 39-33.

Things remained tight through the first half of the third quarter too until Keanu Pinder hit a triple for Adelaide. Giddey soon added another and then Sloan finished the quarter with one from way downtown on the Bunnings Trade logo on the buzzer to put the home side up 65-55.

New Zealand still made a couple of runs in the final period at one stage closing to five and then again within six after a pair of Corey Webster three balls. But the Sixers had the answers firstly with a Johnson three-pointer and then when Giddey got inside to score soon after.

Adelaide went on to score the 10-point win in what was their most complete performance over the opening five games ahead of hosting the Sydney Kings on Saturday.

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ADELAIDE 36ERS 88 (Humphries 21, Johnson 17, Crocker 14)

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 78 (Delany 19, C Webster 17, T Webster 15) 

Box Score 

Game highlights available here

Press conference with Conner Henry and Josh Giddey here

Adelaide 36ers Upcoming Games

Saturday, 30 January 2021
Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Adelaide 36ers v Sydney Kings
Tip-off 7.30pm

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