The Adelaide 36ers continued their strong form on Sunday afternoon, running over the New Zealand Breakers by 18 points.
Final score
New Zealand Breakers 95
Adelaide 36ers 113
It’s a battle of top and bottom this afternoon in the NBL as the league-leading Adelaide 36ers make the trip across the ditch to take on last-placed New Zealand Breakers. Catch all the live scores, highlights and action on The Roar from 3pm (AEDT).
The 36ers were slow out of the gate this season, winning just three of their first nine games to leave them reeling at the wrong end of the standings, but they’ve certainly turned that around.
Adelaide have won nine of their last ten games leading into today’s fixture, leaving them clear at the top of the ladder after flying past the rest of the competition in dominant fashion.
A fairly convincing loss on the road against Melbourne United in Round 13 has been their only blemish in a huge couple of months for the side.
They bounced back in style though, smashing a hapless Illawarra Hawks outfit on Thursday, walking home by 32 points, in the end, thanks to a mammoth opening half, taking a 25-point lead into halftime.
Adelaide’s run has been defined by their Round 11 double over the Kings. After beating them in a tight one at home, they were able to top one of the competitions hottest sides just two days later on the road.
In stark contrast, we have the New Zealand Breakers and their struggle at the bottom of the barrel.
They’ve lost three of their last four after a decent, if not unspectacular, start to the season, including a two-point thriller last week against the Taipans in a very low-scoring affair.
The Breakers can take some solace knowing they’ve been able to perform well at home this season, winning six of nine games.
Less exciting for them is knowing that the 36ers have a positive record on the road, winning six and losing four away from home.
These two sides have played each other twice already this season, with very differing results.
The first came in Round 4 when Adelaide were struggling to get going in their campaign and the Breakers were able to completely dominate, putting 119 points past the 36ers to 93.
They met again in Round 10, this time highlighted by a Jerome Randle 37-point blitz for Adelaide to win by 10.
Prediction
Adelaide have been in ridiculous form as of late and it’s hard to see them losing anywhere against anyone at this point.
New Zealand have had flashes of brilliance throughout the season, but they’ve just struggled all over the court and haven’t been able to string together a good run of form.
Adelaide to win by 15
Internal Fixation
Guest
Very happy with the current form. I still think Illawarra, Kings and United are very dangerous this year. Run and gun doesn't always work in the playoffs and teams will try to bully Randle in a series, but it is all working for Joey at the moment. A few key injures to important players from other teams has helped.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Yes, yes we did have that discussion earlier in the season! Aren't the 36ers on fire.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Internal Fixation
Guest
Hi Connor, Thanks for the blog. Since the refs have actually given Randle the protection he deserves as a true star of this league the sixers have been doing a little better ;) I think Scott and I had this discussion early in the season. I bet Larry has instructed the refs to be more NBA like than allow European style hold and bump - this was going on a bit at the start of the year and particularly against Randle. Goorj ball killed the NBL in the mid-late 2000s - the high scoring makes for a more attractive game to the General public.
Connor Bennett
Editor
FULLTIME It's all over in Auckland and the 36ers complete a dominant win over the New Zealand Breakers. It was an offensive masterclass from Adelaide, piling on 113 points, including a mammoth 62 in the first half, and the Breakers simply had no response on defence or their own attack. The Breakers struggled desperately in the first half, but really bounced back with some better basketball in the third and fourth quarters. They still finished the game with 95 points, a very good haul for any side, let alone the last-placed side in the league. Both sides consolidate their respective positions at the top and bottom of the ladder. Breakers – 95 36ers – 113
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Nathan Sobey winding down the shot clock... but he goes for the crossover and drives into the paint. The defence swarms on him and he wins the foul with the double team. Hits both from the line. Breakers – 95 36ers – 113
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Randle fouled in the paint once again and he makes no mistakes from the line, sinking two from two as the clock winds down underneath one minute. Breakers – 95 36ers – 111
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' THREE FOR SHEA ILI He's nailed a bag of three tonight and he adds another one to the personal tally, pulling up out on the left edge of the three-point line and nailing the long-range jumper . Breakers – 95 36ers – 109
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' The 36ers are all over them right now!! The Breakers look defeated and their defence is just half way out the door. Adelaide made three unchallenged rebounds on that play before Jacobsen was able to lay it up off the glass. Breakers – 92 36ers – 109
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Alex Pledger pulls up for a few more consolation points for the Breakers. Adelaide are quick on the turn here and Jacobsen should be in here under the bucket... but he's fouled. Two from two at the free throw line the end result. Breakers – 92 36ers – 107
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Randle makes two from two as the home fans begin to shuffle out. There's still two minutes on the clock but they know their team is done. Breakers – 90 36ers – 105
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Sobey opened up on the left corner for the three... but he's missed. Adelaide end up winning the foul against Vukona anyway so they'll go to the line with Randle. Breakers – 90 36ers – 101
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Sobey adds to his personal tally with a nice little roll off the left hand. New Zealand trying to play quickly on the turn... and Akil Mitchell will win the foul and head to the line. Misses the first one, but hits the second. Breakers – 90 36ers – 101
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Mitchell and Randle collide here and the later has just gone down. Looked to have copped a shoulder to the jaw. He's up and moving ok again so it doesn't seem to be anything serious. Breakers – 89 36ers – 101
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' VUKONA DUNKS!! Well it just opened up for the kiwi veteran there. He was out on the three-point line, and all of a sudden the seas parted and he jogged into the paint, nailing the one-handed dunk to give the crowd something to cheer about. Breakers – 89 36ers – 101
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Creek feeds Jacobsen in the paint and he should be in on the dunk here... but Vukona comes out of nowhere!! It was more of a mid-air tackle than a block attempt in the end and he gives up the foul. Jacobsen misses off the rim on the first but makes the second. Breakers – 85 36ers – 99
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Randle gives up the foul on Penney and he'll take to the line. He makes the first free throw, and the second one to match. Breakers – 85 36ers – 98
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Creek trying to deal with a three on one triple team here. He wrestles his way in under the bucket but there was no way he was getting past all of them, giving up the turnover. Breakers – 83 36ers – 98
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Mika Vukona keeping the scoreboard ticking for the Breakers but it's far too little far too late at this point as Dan Johnson hits another fast two in reply. Breakers – 81 36ers – 98
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' The Breakers are really falling away here as the lead creeps up towards 30. Breakers – 79 36ers – 96