Sixers maintain hot form at Entertainment Centre

The Adelaide 36ers have put on another impressive showing at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre to stay in the #NBL21 finals race beating the Cairns Taipans 92-76 on Tuesday night.

The Sixers are now putting together some ominous form in front of the home fans at the Entertainment Centre as they backed up double-digit wins over the Illawarra Hawks, Perth Wildcats and Brisbane Bullets with another impressive showing on Tuesday evening.

On the back of the momentum from the big win over the Bullets on Saturday night, the 36ers kept it going with a hot start on Tuesday against the Snakes. The Sixers raced to a 10-1 start and then closed the first quarter with an 11-0 run to lead 27-9.

That turned into a 42-19 advantage with three minutes to go before half-time and from there the 36ers were able to do enough to cruise to the 16-point victory with no player hitting the court and not making their own contribution.

It was another important win for the 36ers to improve them to a 12-16 record on the season. With eight matches remaining, they are still a chance to reach the playoffs but with just two home games remaining, they are going to need to replicate this form on the road in order to make a real charge.

There was so much to like in the overall team performance from the 36ers as they finished the game shooting 47 per cent from the field, 39 per cent from three-point range, 92 per cent from the foul line and picking up 47 rebounds, dishing out 23 assists and having just the 11 turnovers.

Four players from Adelaide scored in double-figures, two more scored nine points and then even players that didn’t score a lot had a significant impact on the game in other ways.

Brandon Paul would top-score with 18 points to go with 10 rebounds, five assists and three steals as he remains unbeaten in home games for Adelaide.

Josh Giddey put up another 15 points and six assists while in his 351st NBL game, Daniel Johnson had another 15 points, 10 rebounds and four assists with Tony Crocker also putting 15 points on 3/6 shooting from deep off the bench.

Sunday Dech had a big say in the game too with his stifling defence on Taipans point guard Scott Machado to go with his nine points, three assists and three rebounds.

Keanu Pinder might have only scored two points but was full of energy with six rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals while Jack McVeigh scored nine points, Isaac Humphries four (six rebounds), Alex Mudronja three and Dan Dillon two.

Adelaide coach Conner Henry was happy with the win but knows his side has some big challenges to come especially away from home.

"We played a lot of easy basketball where we shared the ball and had some good performances. I thought Crock shot the ball exceptionally well, he was focused and we needed to knock down threes," Henry said.

"We had a lot of contributions, Brandon had a player of the game night and I thought he was really good defensively as well. Josh didn’t rebound like he usually does but he was really solid in finding guys and playing well on the defensive end.

"We know the situation we are in - they are all one-game series. We need to win at home and then we need to go on the road and play some tough teams at home who are above us and in that group trying to get third and fourth spot."

It was a stunning start to the game for Adelaide with Isaac Humphries scoring two quick baskets far too easily. Brandon Paul then added five points in no time including a four-point play to make it 10-1 after just over two minutes.

The Sixers then closed the opening period with the last 11 points including a pair of triples to Tony Crocker and they were up 27-9 by quarter-time on the back of dominating the glass for 20 rebounds to just six from Cairns.

The 36ers went on another 13-3 run midway through the second quarter to take further control and lead by 23 points, and still by 16 at half-time on the back Daniel Johnson, Paul and Crocker all scoring in double-figures as they held the Snakes to shooting 6/22 from the field.

A couple of three balls from Josh Giddey and Paul early in the second half kept Adelaide's lead at 20 before Giddey showed his remarkable all-round talents firstly by blocking a shot from Venky Jois. He then grabbed the ball, dribbled the length of the floor and finished impressively at the rack.

Adelaide was still leading by 22 at three quarter-time, which became 24 to start the fourth with a bucket from Crocker before an enjoyable final period from the 36ers in front of the home fans.

Jack McVeigh, Sunday Dech, Crocker, Dech again and Alex Mudronja all drained three balls down the stretch as Adelaide went on to win 92-76.

The 36ers now look to keep the momentum going on the road with three crucial clashes against fellow finals aspirants. There are games against the Sydney Kings the next two Sundays in between a clash with the Illawarra Hawks next Tuesday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 16

ADELAIDE 36ERS 92 (Paul 18, Giddey 15, Johnson 15, Crocker 15)

CAIRNS TAIPANS 76 (Deng 16, Ngatai 12, Dufelmeier 9) 

BOX SCORE