Johnson sets it up, Giddey inspires 36ers opening win

Daniel Johnson picked up where he left off in Friday's tough season-opening loss but he needed help and that charge was led by Josh Giddey with the NBL Next Star producing when it mattered most for the Adelaide 36ers to beat South East Melbourne Phoenix 116-108 in double overtime.

The pressure was on the 36ers to respond to Friday night's season-opening defeat to Melbourne United but one person who only had to continue the way he started was Johnson.

And Adelaide's five-time club MVP certainly did that not missing a shot in the first half on his way to finishing the afternoon with a monstrous 33 points, four rebounds and two assists on 11/14 shooting from the floor and 10/11 from the foul line.

But even that wasn’t quite enough for the Sixers and the heat was turned on the rest of the group to stand up when he fouled out just before the end of regulation.

South East Melbourne scored the last six points of the fourth quarter to force the game into an extra period before Giddey really started to show what he was made of. The 18-year-old stole the ball for a breakaway slam before falling flat on his face.

He shook that off and Adelaide again were in a winning position, but the Phoenix answered once again ending that overtime period with a 6-0 run. 

Then in the second overtime, Brendan Teys provided the spark for Adelaide off the bench and then it was Giddey who showed the poise defying his age and experience. His five quick points and then an assist to Isaac Humphries was enough to seal the deal on the eventual eight-point win.

ROUND 1 PREVIEW V SE MELBOURNE PHOENIX 

DJ, GIDDEY DO THEIR BEST ON DIFFICULT OPENING NIGHT 

DJ'S CORNER – PLAYER COLUMN VOLUME 3

HENRY BACKS THREE-MAN LEADERSHIP GROUP AS CAPTAINS 

It was an impressive response to Friday in so many ways for the 36ers and it wasn’t just Johnson and Giddey, as good as the pair were. Giddey finished with a remarkable 16 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists in his second game, but plenty of other Sixers had their moments.

Humphries got better the longer the game went with his five offensive boards instrumental. He ended up with 14 points, 12 rebounds, four blocks, three assists and three steals.

Sunday Dech had a strong game too for 14 points and five rebounds while Tony Crocker was improved for 12 points and three assists while fellow important Donald Sloan had his moments with seven points, four rebounds and two assists.

Jack McVeigh added 10 points, Brendan Teys eight and Keanu Pinder two to go with seven rebounds but he was hampered by foul trouble.

Sixers coach Conner Henry got his first win at the helm and was pleased with the improvement.

"It's really good to win a game under the circumstances with multiple guys fouling out," Henry said.

"These games are coming fast right now and we have to stay healthy and get rested, but we turned the ball over early and then really in the second half we ended up only turning the ball over seven times so we took care of it better. 

"That was a huge key and all in all I'm pleased. I thought the ball movement was a lot better but still we can get even better at it. But they responded, we moved the ball, we shared the ball and got production from a lot more guys, and that's what happens when you share the ball."

Daniel Johnson started the scoring but then Adelaide imports Donald Sloan and Tony Crocker joined in for a 6-2 start. Crocker then got to the rack for a big slam and the 36ers ended the opening period well to be up 19-18.

Former Adelaide captain Mitch Creek then went on a tear midway through the second quarter to give South East Melbourne the lead, but Adelaide responded starting with a Crocker bucket.

Johnson and Josh Giddey then made up a run of 11 straight points to see Adelaide lead by a game-high nine points and to still be up four by the main break.

It had been an efficient half from the 36ers shooting a phenomenal 68 per cent from the floor but the Phoenix were winning the possession game with 11 more shots and three extra free-throws to stay in touch.

Adelaide started the third quarter strongly too and back to back and-one players from Johnson and Sunday Dech had the lead back out to seven. Johnson was really started to feel it too and when he scored 15 individual points for the third term, he almost single-handedly kept the 36ers close.

Then to open the fourth quarter, Humphries and Giddey helped Johnson give Adelaide the opening eight points and the 36ers still led by six with a Crocker bucket with 1:30 remaining.

The win was within reach but it was a difficult final few possessions and the Phoenix capitalised to force overtime.

The 36ers came out firing to start overtime even with Johnson fouling out. Giddey, McVeigh and Sloan made big buckets, but the Phoenix responded with a 10-2 run before McVeigh somehow scored to level scores which ended up forcing a second extra period.

Brendan Teys offered fresh legs and a couple of quick buckets for Adelaide and then Giddey took over. He made a couple of free-throws, converted a three-point play and then found Humphries inside for what proved to be the game sealing basket.

The 36ers and Phoenix now do it all again back at Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Wednesday night.

2020/21 Hungry Jack's NBL Round 1

ADELAIDE 36ERS 116 (Johnson 33, Giddey 16, Humphries 14, Dech 14)

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 108 (Creek 30, Wetzell 24, Sykes 18) 

BOX SCORE 

Click here for game highlights

Click here for Adelaide 36ers Press Conference (Conner Henry & Josh GIddey

Adelaide 36ers Upcoming Games

Wednesday, 20 January 2021
Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Adelaide 36ers v South East Melbourne Phoenix
Tip-off 7.00pm

Friday, 22 January 2021
Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Adelaide 36ers v New Zealand Breakers
Tip-off 7.00pm

Tickets are available here.

Adelaide 36ers Memberships are available, for more information click here.