Sixers fire in crunch time to stop Bullets

An electric 8-0 run in the final 90 seconds has propelled Adelaide 36ers to a 95-88 victory against Brisbane Bullets at the Entertainment Centre on Christmas Eve.

With scores level at 85-85 with a tick over one minute remaining, DJ Vasiljevic and Trey Kell both hit huge three-pointers as the 36ers snapped a four-game losing skid.

Vasiljevic scored a team-high 23 points to go with six assists and three rebounds, while Kell added 18 points with four rebounds and three assists.

Import power forward Jacob Wiley was outstanding for the home side, scoring 21 points to go with 12 rebounds and four assists and Isaac Humphries added 14 points to go with four rebounds and two blocks.

Nathan Sobey was the best for the Bullets, scoring a game-high 36 points, while Sam McDaniel added 16 points to go with seven rebounds.

Adelaide had an electrifying start to the contest, scoring the first seven points of the contest to take a 7-0 lead after just one minute.

Wiley opened proceedings, then Vasiljevic connected from downtown and when Kell found Wiley for a slam dunk, the sold out home crowd of 9440 were on their feet.

Brisbane responded with a 7-0 run to tie the game away and when Sobey hit back-to-back three-pointers, the visitors had the lead 12-9.

Humphries was again a focus inside, scoring seven opening quarter points, and when Vasiljevic then Mitch McCarron hit consecutive triples, the home side had a 25-19 lead.

Sobey continued to score for the Bullets, the Boomers bronze medalist had 12 points in the first 10 minutes but missed a halfcourt shot on the buzzer as the 36ers took a 27-23 lead.

Humphries scored inside, then Vasiljevic caught fire from outside, connecting on back-to-back triples as Adelaide built the lead to 35-25.

Wiley was everywhere at both ends of the floor, the 36ers finding a spark from Sunday Dech and Jason Cadee, but Sobey continued to score and Kell picked up his third foul, the Adelaide lead was 43-37.

Kyrin Galloway again was an instant impact off the bench, scoring seven second quarter points and when Wiley scored on the fast break, Adelaide took a 52-42 lead into the main break.

The visitors opened the third quarter on a 5-0 run to cut the home side’s half time lead in half before Kell connected from downtown for the first time in the contest.

Kell started to find his groove after first half foul trouble as the Bullets looked to quell the Vasiljevic influence.

Wiley continued to be the spark for the home side, blocking shots and diving on loose balls, ending up in the front row as the home side regained a double-digit lead.

Sobey cut into the home side’s lead with a breakaway dunk, Rocco Zikarsky showed his height around the rim, but Adelaide took a 70-63 lead into the final 10 minutes.

The Bullets started the final quarter with Sobey converting a three-point play, but Cadee then found Wiley on an alley-oop from halfcourt.

Wiley continued to fire the home side, scoring seven straight points and when he found Humphries inside for a layup, Adelaide had a 79-70 lead.

Brisbane responded straight away, connecting on consecutive three-pointers through McDaniel and Sobey to cut the margin to three points.

Adelaide attacked the hoop through Wiley, Vasiljevic and when Humphries scored underneath the 36ers had a 85-78 lead.

But the Bullets fired back with a 7-0 run to tie the game with just over 90 seconds to go.

Then Vasiljevic and Kell connected on the knockout blows for Scott Ninnis’ first win as head coach and Adelaide a fifth success for the NBL24 season.

Adelaide will be back on home court on Thursday night when the 36ers host Perth Wildcats from 7pm.

ADELAIDE 36ERS 95 (Vasiljevic 23, Wiley 21, Kell 18) def BRISBANE BULLETS 88 (Sobey 36, McDaniel 16) at Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

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