The Cleveland Show hits Top End

Boom off-season recruit Antonius Cleveland has sparked Adelaide 36ers to a 87-79 win against Tasmania JackJumpers at the NBL Blitz in Darwin on Monday night.

Cleveland, the reigning NBL Defensive Player of the Year, showed he can be an offensive force, scoring 19 of his game-high 27 points in the first quarter as the 36ers again took time to get into top gear.

The poor start, which struck Adelaide in their opening 84-76 win against South East Melbourne Phoenix, resurfaced again against the NBL22 grand finalist JackJumpers.

Turnovers from Craig Randall II and Daniel Johnson handing the JackJumpers a 6-0 lead, and when Matt Kenyon drove through the keyway Tasmania had eight points in the first 90 seconds, causing head coach CJ Bruton to burn an early time out.

Adelaide showed they can score and score at a quick rate, turning a 12-6 deficit into a 16-15 lead within two minutes as the Cleveland show began, Adelaide 27-22 leaders at the first break.

With Cleveland cooling off on the bench, fellow off-season recruit Robert Franks began to flex his mu

scles.After limited minutes against the Phoenix, Franks (eight points) looked comfortable on the court, playing with confidence, running the floor well and scoring inside while also getting himself to the free throw line.

Brought into the 11-man roster for the injured Anthony Drmic (knee), Nick Marshall continued his stellar NBL1 form on the main stage.

Marshall was getting to the basket, creating opportunities, and hitting the open three-point shot as he scored seven points off the bench to create another avenue to the hoop.

Adelaide was on the verge of extending their lead to double digits, but former 36er Jack McVeigh brought Tasmania back into the contest with 12 first half points.

A Mitch McCarron buzzer beater on half time gave Adelaide a 48-45 edge at the main interval.

The defensive intensity lifted in the third quarter as points were hard to come by.

Three huge offensive rebounds from Sunday Dech for four points kept Adelaide in the lead, while Randall II started to find his range from the perimeter.

As the 36ers again looked likely to build a big lead, Tasmania found a way to stay in the contest through Sean Macdonald, who connected on two big three-pointers.

Randall II (17 points) hit his third triple of the quarter to give Adelaide a 71-64 lead with 10 minutes to play.

Offensive rebounding again plagued the 36ers early in the final stanza, Adelaide giving up two extra possessions as Josh Magette and Rashard Kelly struck three-pointers as the JackJumpers tied the game at 73-73 with six minutes to play.

But tough baskets from McCarron, Dech and hustle from Cleveland ending in a Kyrin Galloway three-pointer and another McCarron hoop gave Adelaide a 2-0 NBL Blitz start.

Adelaide will be back in action on Thursday night, when the 36ers play Illawarra Hawks at Marrara Indoor Stadium from 8pm local time.

ADELAIDE 36ERS 87 (Cleveland 27, Randall II 17, McCarron 12) def TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 79 (McVeigh 16, Macdonald 13, Doyle 12) at Marrara Indoor Stadium. 

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