Sixers take plenty out of final pre-season clash

Considering three of their most important players didn’t suit up against an opponent going just about full tilt, the Adelaide 36ers couldn’t have asked for more from their final NBL pre-season encounter in Cairns on Saturday night. 

The 36ers were playing their second match in Cairns in three days as their final preparations for the NBL season proper, and with import swingman Tony Crocker, gun centre Isaac Humphries and versatile guard Sunday Dech not suited up, there were plenty of good signs against Taipans in the 96-88 loss.

The Sixers now have a short turnaround to prepare to open the NBL season on Friday night at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre against Melbourne United. 

Two days later the Sixers will be back at home again hosting the South East Melbourne Phoenix in Round 1 of the 2021 NBL season.

It was certainly a spirited performance from the 36ers and it was the backcourt combination of Next Star Josh Giddey and former NBA guard Donald Sloan that was the most exciting aspect.

Given they've only had a few practice sessions together, their chemistry was already impressive and 36ers fans deserve to be excited about what they can deliver especially with the backcourt support from Sunday Dech, Brendan Teys and Daniel Dillon along the way.

The Sixers might have been missing three key players, but took the game right up to the Taipans who are coming off a semi-final appearance a season ago and were just about full strength themselves in the last hit out before the season proper gets underway next weekend.

It was a stunning opening to the fourth quarter for the 36ers with Daniel Johnson drilling consecutive bombs from beyond the arc to take a four-point deficit to a two-point lead with nine minutes remaining.

Daniel Dillon regained the lead for the Sixers with 7:30 left and scores were still level after a Donald Sloan free-throw with six minutes to go. Adelaide kept on fight but Cairns was able to pull away late for the eventual eight-point win.

Just six days out from the season opener against Melbourne, Adelaide will take plenty from the game and it was an especially standout performance from new import Donald Sloan who delivered 24 points and four rebounds including hitting 3/6 from downtown.

His backcourt partner Josh Giddey added 13 points and seven rebounds including a monstrous dunk while Daniel Johnson warmed up for yet another season nicely with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Jack McVeigh finished with 10 points and four rebounds too while Brendan Teys contributed six points and two steals, Daniel Dillon five points, four rebounds and three steals, Owen Hulland five points and three boards, Alex Mudronja four points and four rebounds, and Keanu Pinder two points and four boards.

2020/21 Hungry Jack's NBL Pre-season

ADELAIDE 36ERS 88 (Sloan 24, Johnson 19, Giddey 13)

CAIRNS TAIPANS 96 (Noi 22, Oliver 21, Machado 15)

Box Score