Sixers beat Breakers to continue rolling

Ominous momentum continues to build with the Adelaide 36ers after they returned home on Sunday and built a 28-point lead by early in the third quarter and ended up beating the New Zealand Breakers 94-78.

The 36ers were back at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre for the first time since January 13 after going two of three on the road, and used their emotional energy to full advantage with 57 points to 35 in the first half.

They turned that into a lead as big as 28 and won by 16 to further consolidate sixth spot at 13-13 with three games to go.

The Sixers were fresh off big wins on the road over Cairns and Sydney, and while New Zealand did win in Christchurch over Brisbane on Friday, they lost Parker Jackson-Cartwright in the process.

The first quarter included things getting heated between former NBA big men Montrezl Harrell and Jonah Bolden, but Adelaide responded to lead 27-15 by quarter-time and with another 30-20 in the second quarter.

The lead got out to 28 early in the second half but to New Zealand's credit they responded with 12 straight points to keep things interesting although the 36ers did maintain a degree of control.

Adelaide had just three offensive rebounds but scored 18 points from turnovers along with 21 fast break points and shooting 51 per cent from the floor, and going 8/20 from deep and 18/22 at the stripe.

Harrell had another 26 points, eight rebounds, four steals and two blocks with Kendric Davis providing 23 points and a season-best 13 assists, Isaac Humphries 12 points, three rebounds and three steals, DJ Vasiljevic 11 points, six boards and four assists, and Lat Mayen 10 points and six rebounds.

"This team's in a completely different space," coach Mike Wells said.

"Our attention to detail ... is night and day different.

"Offence comes and goes ... we were tired but we were connected and we dug in defensively."

The Breakers did battle hard in the second half outscoring the Sixers 38 points to 26 after falling 28 down. Having just 10 free-throw attempts hurt, though, with that magnified by making just three while they also had 17 turnovers and shot just 40 per cent.

Mojave King had a season-best 20 points on 5/8 three-point shooting for the Breakers but he just didn’t have enough help with Matt Mooney having an up and down performance with 14 points and nine assists but eight turnovers and eventually fouling out.

Bolden had his first double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

"It's been an up and down season for us; some changes, we had to adjust ... but we are always there competing," Breakers coach Petteri Koponen said.

"Everyone wants to win in this league, but are we ready to do those little things?

"A challenging first year; a lot of good and bad moments."

The 36ers came back home feeling full of confidence and raced out to a 12-3 start including a couple of finishes from Lat Mayen in transition.

Mayen then hit a three ball, so did DJ Vasiljevic and it was an ominous start from the Sixers who led 27-15 by the end of the first quarter with shooting 56 per cent while all five of New Zealand's made shots were threes.

By midway through the second quarter and Adelaide had pushed their advantage out beyond 20 points when they went on a 13-2 scoring run with Isaac Humphries, Kendric Davis and Vasiljevic all part of it.

Jarell Martin also hit from downtown to push the lead out to 24 points and by half-time the 36ers were still on top 57-35 with four players scoring in double-figures and shooting 61 per cent opposed to just 35 from New Zealand.

Back-to-back Vasiljevic three-pointers early in the third quarter saw Adelaide push that lead out to 28 points, but New Zealand did well to respond by scoring the next 12 points.

That included buckets to Mojave King and Karim Lopez, and then a three ball to Matt Mooney and suddenly it was back to a 16-point ball game and Mike Wells wanted to talk it over.

The 36ers responded well to again lead by 21 at three quarter-time and while the Breakers kept fighting, they could never get back within single figures with Adelaide ending up winning by 16.

The 36ers now have three games remaining starting with hosting the decimated Brisbane Bullets on Friday night ahead of finishing away to South East Melbourne and Perth.

New Zealand return home for two games at Spark Arena against the Cairns Taipans on Saturday and the Illawarra Hawks the following Wednesday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2024/25

ADELAIDE 36ERS 94 (Harrell 26, Davis 23, Humphries 12)

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 78 (King 20, Mooney 14, Bolden 10)

BOX SCORE