Sixers shine again with second win over Bullets

Adelaide 36ers fans caught another impressive glimpse into what the NBL 2020/21 season could hold with a second strong pre-season victory over the Brisbane Bullets, winning 87-62 at Titanium Security Arena on Sunday.

The 36ers and Bullets are the first two teams to play against fellow NBL opposition this pre-season ahead of what is likely to be a January start to the season proper, and there has been plenty to like in both showings for the Sixers.

They had a strong 93-75 win on Friday night at Adelaide Entertainment Centre and then backed it up on Sunday afternoon at Titanium Security Arena with he 25-point win against the Bullets.

Neither team was at full strength obviously with two months to go until the season and with imports yet to arrive while the 36ers are still yet to add another member of the roster as a replacement for Obi Kyei.

But the players out there once again on Sunday were impressive ending up with 47 rebounds to 36 which was key after losing the battle on the glass on Friday. The Sixers also forced Brisbane into 21 turnovers and scored 34 points from those.

Daniel Johnson top-scored again for Adelaide with 19 points, three rebounds and three assists with Jack McVeigh contributing 15 points and eight boards, and Daniel Dillon 10 points, four assists, three rebounds and three steals.

Josh Giddey was again impressive with nine points, seven assists, six rebounds and two steals while Brendan Teys had nine points and three boards, Keanu Pinder nine points and four rebounds, Isaac Humphries seven points and 12 boards, Alex Mudronja four points and four steals, Sunday Dech three points and Nick Marshall two.

Meanwhile, former Sixer Nathan Sobey top-scored for the Bullets with 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Najeal Young also scored eight points, Tyrell Harrison eight and Tanner Krebs eight.

On the back of the 18-point win on Friday night at Adelaide Entertainment Centre, the Sixers did concede the first four points on Sunday to Brisbane before responding with the next 11 including a triple from Sunday Dech and strong finish at the rim from Keanu Pinder.

Regular Sixers fixtures Daniel Johnson, Brendan Teys, Daniel Dillon and Jack McVeigh then kept the momentum going as the home team built a 29-16 advantage after one.

Pinder then hit from deep to complete a 9-0 run for the 36ers to open the second period as the lead grew to 22 which did become 23 soon after when McVeigh got inside to convert at the rim.

McVeigh added another couple of buckets before half-time to see the 36ers lead the Bullets 50-31 at the break.

Brisbane came out to hit the first six points of the second half forcing Conner Henry into a timeout for the Sixers which did lead to a steadying four points. A Johnson three-pointer further steadied things to get the lead back out to 16 points and when he hit again from downtown later in the quarter the lead was 18.

Back-to-back turnovers led to layups for Teys and Dillon too leading into three quarter-time which saw the 36ers on top 73-47.

Both teams went deep into their bench throughout the fourth quarter but it led to some exciting plays including a monster dunk for the Bullets from Kian Dennis, but the 36ers remained in control with regular scores including triples from Josh Giddey and Teys.

2020/21 HUNGRY JACKS NBL PRE-SEASON

Adelaide 36ers 87 (Johnson 19, McVeigh 15, Dillon 10)
def
Brisbane Bullets 62 (Sobey 14, Young 8, Krebs 8, Harrison 8) 

Box Score