Gun Sixers trio star against Breakers

Gun Sixers trio star against Breakers

Thursday, September 12, 2024

The Adelaide 36ers remained unbeaten at the NBL Blitz beating the New Zealand Breakers 98-91.

The new Adelaide 36ers big three of DJ Vasiljevic, Isaac Humphries and Kendric Davis all fired their team to the 98-91 NBL Blitz victory over the New Zealand Breakers and their former captain Mitch McCarron.

Even with the 36ers missing Jarell Martin with a foot injury and awaiting the arrival of Montrezl Harrell, they started on fire on Wednesday night on the Gold Coast.

The Sixers raced out to a 9-2 start with big man Humphries on fire early and they would end up going into quarter-time on top 28-22 thanks to a Ben Griscti bucket just before the buzzer.

The Breakers fired back impressively in the second period by piling on 29 points and that saw them head into the half-time break leading 51-44. That was on shooting 52 per cent from the field with new import Matt Mooney putting up 12 points on 5/7 shooting.

Former Next Star Mojave King was up against his former team and had 14 first half points for New Zealand, but Adelaide turned the tide again with 34 points in the third quarter.

From there the Sixers went on to score the seven-point victory and there was a lot to like with what new coach Mike Wells has to work with even with Martin out injured and Harrell yet to arrive as an injury replacement.

Adelaide ended up shooting 57 per cent from the floor for the game despite going 11/19 at the foul line with new import point guard Kendric Davis again exciting with 23 points, five rebounds and four assists while hitting 4/5 from three-point range.

Big man Isaac Humphries also produced 20 points and 11 rebounds while fellow significant re-signing DJ Vasiljevic played almost 37 minutes and put up 15 points, three assists, two boards and two steals.

Lat Mayen contributed 11 points and five rebounds, Alex Starling nine points and five boards, and 393-game veteran Jason Cadee eight points and three assists.

Parker Jackson-Cartwright produced another strong showing for the Breakers with 21 points, eight assists and three rebounds despite a scare late with a dislocated finger.

Matt Mooney had a hot first half and finished with 20 points, three rebounds and two assists on 4/8 three-point shooting while former Next Star Mojave King impressed with 18 points on 7/10 shooting.

Sam Mennenga also had 12 points, five rebounds and three assists, and it was a first chance for Mitch McCarron to play against the team he was captain of and spent the past three seasons with.

The new Breaker had five points, five rebounds and three assists in almost 20 minutes.

Both teams have one more game to go on the Gold Coast with Adelaide against the South East Melbourne Phoenix first up on Friday before New Zealand takes on the Sydney Kings.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL BLITZ

ADELAIDE 36ERS 98 (Davis 23, Humphries 20, Vasiljevic 15)

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 91 (Jackson-Cartwright 21, Mooney 20, King 18)

BOX SCORE

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