The Adelaide 36ers have overcome a sloppy begin and a late scare to defeat short-handed NBL outfit South East Melbourne Phoenix 94-88.
After combating their means out of an early 10-point deficit on the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Saturday, the Sixers’ firepower got here to the occasion to forge forward by 15 factors contained in the final 4 minutes.
With import Gary Browne (calf) and Ryan Broekhoff (hip) lacking by damage, MVP candidate Mitch Creek (24 factors) piggybacked the Phoenix to a 10-0 burst late to virtually pinch victory.
Robert Franks (20 factors) and Daniel Johnson (20 factors in 17 minutes off the bench) led the cost for the 36ers, whose third successive triumph noticed them transfer into the black with a 9-8 document.
“We had to fight for it,” Sixers coach CJ Bruton stated.
“They made some tough shots early and any time you give up 32 (first-quarter) points, it’s not ideal.
“We did an excellent job to handle that and get the lead at halftime.”
The home side was turnover-riddled early and repeatedly made to pay for their profligacy by former Sixers Creek and Kyle Adnam, who combined to steer Phoenix to a 32-26 quarter-time buffer.
The combination of Kai Sotto and Mitch McCarron dug Adelaide out of their early mire in the second stanza.
McCarron’s hook on the halftime buzzer gave the 36ers a 49-47 lead on the back of a much improved quarter underpinned by a commanding performance on the glass.
The size and rebounding differential was stark all afternoon as Adelaide outrebounded Phoenix 50-33.
Antonius Cleveland (11 boards), Sotto (10), Franks (eight) and Johnson (seven) cleaned up on the glass against the visitors, whose best rebounder was Creek with five.
With his interior scoring and hard work on the boards, Franks proved a handful for Phoenix in the third period, at the end of which Adelaide led 72-69.
They pulled further clear in the fourth before Creek’s late flurry created some momentary discomfort.
“We got here into the sport attempting to consider we had been the higher staff,” Phoenix coach Simon Mitchell said.
“We anticipated to win and we did not, so we’re upset.
“There’s work to do.”
