Third quarter surge sparks Sixers past Tassie

An impressive third quarter spark led by Kendric Davis and Montrezl Harrell has lifted Adelaide 36ers to a 77-73 win against Tasmania JackJumpers at the Entertainment Centre on Sunday.

In front of a third straight sell out of 9384 people and celebrating the 400th NBL game for Jason Cadee, Davis and Harrell were the two-man show as Adelaide fought back from a half-time deficit for the four-point success.

Davis scored a game-high 23 points, dished six assists and had four steals, while Harrell was everywhere with 22 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Captain DJ Vasiljevic came up big in the second half for 11 points, while Jarell Martin had seven points and four rebounds in his first game in a 36ers uniform.

Isaac Humphries (six points, seven rebounds, two assists, two steals) threw down a big slam dunk to open scoring, but the JackJumpers responded straight away to take a 5-2 lead.

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Fresh off extending his contract for the rest of NBL25 season, Harrell scored, but Tasmania went on a 10-0 run to open a 15-4 advantage.

Harrell kept the Adelaide offense afloat, scoring seven opening quarter points but Tasmania took a 22-13 lead into the first break.

Martin scored his first points from the free throw line, Harrell kept on scoring and when Davis scored underneath, Adelaide had reduced the JackJumpers’ lead to 28-24.

Adelaide got to the free throw line after attacking the basket almost at will, but Tasmania continued to retain the lead and built back their quarter time advantage of nine points at 37-28.

The 36ers were unable to find the basket from the three-point line, missing their first 11 shots from beyond the arc before Davis swished one late as the JackJumpers took a 39-31 lead into the main break.

Harrell scored to open the second half, Humphries then swished a floater and when Sunday Dech (six points, three rebounds) connected from downtown, the JackJumpers lead was sliced to 39-38 in the opening two minutes.

Adelaide reduced the Tasmania lead to one point on several occasions throughout the third quarter on some great Davis drives and a three-pointer from Martin.

Vasiljevic tied the scores at 50-50 on his first triple of the contest and when Davis scored another tough lay-up, Adelaide had their first lead since Humphries’ opening basket.

Davis began to take over the game, another sweet move made it eight points for the quarter as the 36ers took a 54-50 lead into the final 10 minutes.  

Another jump shot from Davis, a Harrell put back, a Vasiljevic triple and two more from Harrell gave Adelaide a 63-50 lead.

A Doyle three-pointer snapped a 16-0 Adelaide run, then Magnay scored on the next play as Tasmania cut the 36ers’ lead to 63-55. 

Dech swished his second three-pointer of the game for a 69-61 lead, but the JackJumpers cut the lead back, a huge three-pointer from Doyle cut the Adelaide lead to 75-73, but Davis finished the game by icing two free throws, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

Adelaide will be back on home court this Friday night, when the 36ers battle Cairns Taipans.

ADELAIDE 36ERS 77 (Davis 23, Harrell 22, Vasiljevic 11) def TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 73 (Doyle 22, Crawford 13, Magnay 11) at Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

Crowd: 9384

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