Vasiljevic makes debut, Phoenix get past 36ers

South East Melbourne Phoenix spoiled the Adelaide 36ers debut of DJ Vasiljevic with a 102-85 victory at the Entertainment Centre on Thursday night.

The visitors used a second quarter avalanche, scoring 15 unanswered points just before half time as import duo Will Cummings and Gary Browne led the way in the 17-point win.

Browne scored 19 points and dished eight assists, while Cummings added 18 points with five assists and Mitch Creek had a game-high 23 points.

DJ Vasiljevic (17 points), making his 36ers debut, made his first three-pointer from the corner to give Adelaide an early 7-6 lead.

Jacob Wiley (14 points, eight rebounds) started strong, attacking the hoop as both side traded baskets early, but a triple from Matt Kenyon (11 points, 10 rebounds) gave the Phoenix a 14-11 advantage.

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Another triple from Vasiljevic, then Isaac Humphries found Tohi Smith-Milner for a three-point play and the home side had a 21-17 lead, but Browne then scored three straight baskets.

Two-time NBL champion Vasiljevic scored 11 first quarter points to trump Browne’s nine as both sides went into quarter time locked away at 28-28.

Browne continued to impact the game and Alan Williams (15 points, 13 rebounds) started to cause some problems down low in his first game for the NBL24 season as the Phoenix built a 38-33 lead.

Adelaide found themselves in foul trouble midway through the second quarter as the Phoenix attacked the rim on almost every possession.

Vasiljevic hit another three-pointer before the visitors, led by Cummings, went on the game breaking 15-0 run to end the second quarter and take a 54-42 lead into the main break.

Trey Kell (21 points, four rebounds) started to attack the basket and got himself to the free throw line early in the third quarter, but the visitors seemed to have all answers to keep their double-digit lead.

Trentyn Flowers was inserted into the game as the home side looked for a small ball line-up to turn the momentum, but the Phoenix continued to execute at the offensive end to take a 77-65 lead into the final 10 minutes.

As hard as the 36ers tried to lift the home crowd and get back into the game, South East Melbourne found the basket down the stretch.

Adelaide will be back on Brett Maher Court on Saturday night when the 36ers host Perth Wildcats from 7.30pm.

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 102 (Creek 23, Browne 19, Cummings 18) def ADELAIDE 36ERS 85 (Kell 21, Vasiljevic 17, Wiley 14) at Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

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