Vasiljevic stars as 36ers stop Snakes

Adelaide star guard DJ Vasiljevic has led the 36ers to their third straight win, defeating Cairns Taipans 88-71 at the Entertainment Centre on Saturday night.

In front of another sellout crowd of 9471 fans, Vasiljevic scored a game-high 28 points to go with four rebounds and two steals as the home side led at every change in the 17-point success.

Trey Kell scored 11 points to go with five rebounds and three assists, while Isaac Humphries added 10 points with six rebounds and two blocks.

Vasiljevic got the home fans involved early, attacking the basket from the opening tip, scoring 11 points in the first 10 minutes.

Adelaide made a point of driving to the basket almost every possession as Vasiljevic scored seven straight points as the home side opened a 17-12 lead.

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• PROUD JOURNEY: PART I - THE DECISION
• PROUD JOURNEY: PART II - THOUGHT PROCESS
• PROUD JOURNEY: PART III - THE RETURN
• PROUD JOURNEY: PART IV - MOVING FORWARD

A Humphries slam from a Jacob Wiley assist got the home crowd on their feet before the visitors went on a 6-0 run to close the margin to 19-18.

Consecutive three-pointers from Jason Cadee, then Wiley gave the home side a 28-25 lead at quarter time.

Adelaide exploded to start the second quarter, a Mitch McCarron post move followed by a huge dunk from Kell and when Alex Starling scored under the hoop, the 36ers had a 34-25 lead.

The defensive intensity lifted from the 36ers as Vasiljevic continued to attack the basket, he scored another seven straight points as Adelaide increased their lead to 45-32.

After a Ninnis time out with Adelaide’s lead reduced to 12 points, Humphries and Kell scored back-to-back baskets as the 36ers took a 53-38 lead into the main interval.

Tahjere McCall opened the third quarter with a three-pointer as the home side responded straight away with triples to Vasiljevic and Cadee and when Humphries scored inside, the 36ers had a 61-41 lead.

The Taipans fought back into the contest, Bul Kuol connected from outside and when Josh Roberts scored inside, the Adelaide lead was cut to 63-48, forcing Ninnis into another time out.

Adelaide rebounded straight away, Wiley scored inside after a tough offensive rebound and when Vasiljevic connected on his fourth from downtown, the 36ers advantage was back to 20 points.

Vasiljevic added two free throws to have an eight-point quarter and when Starling nearly banked in a circus shot on the buzzer, the home side took a 75-53 lead into the final 10 minutes.

A fifth three-pointer from Vasiljevic opened the final stanza, but the Taipans fought back through Miller, who looked to put the visitors on his shoulders, scoring five straight points.

The 36ers quickly regained their 20-point advantage through a jump shot from Starling as the home side recorded their 10^th win of the NBL24 season.

Lat Mayen scored a team-high 15 points for the Taipans to go with nine rebounds, while Kuol added 13 points.

Adelaide will be back on home court this Friday night when the 36ers host Sydney Kings at the Entertainment Centre from 7pm.

ADELAIDE 36ERS 88 (Vasiljevic 28, Kell 11, Humphries 10) def CAIRNS TAIPANS 71 (Mayen 15, Kuol 13, Armstrong 10) at the Entertainment Centre.

BOX SCORE