The Adelaide 36ers have taken a step towards the NBL Finals series with a thumping 35-point victory over the Perth Wildcats.
Final score
Adelaide 36ers 109
Perth Wildcats 74
The NBL’s biggest rivalry resumes in the semi-finals as the Adelaide 36ers look to make their first grand final series since 2013-14 against the Perth Wildcats, who are the most successful team in history. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage of Game 1 from 7:30pm (AEDT).
While there was no major pressure on either of these sides to make the finals over the last few rounds, the Wildcats, in particular, will be less than impressed with the way they finished their season.
Even with a much-improved performance in their last match against the Cairns Taipans to finish the season on a winning note, their form has been patchy at best.
Losses to Cairns, Melbourne and their semi-final opponents Adelaide in the preceding weeks mean they enter the finals having lost three of their last four and five of their last eight. Two losses in a week to the bottom-of-the-table Sydney Kings ensured Perth weren’t going to be in the fight for the minor premiership.
After beating Adelaide in a highly physical encounter, they lost just a handful of days later. There is emotion between these sides, and it could come down to which side handles it better – that, you’d have to think, goes to the experience of Perth.
The 36ers have really found their touch in recent weeks though, closing out the season on a high to finish in the top two and gain home court advantage for the semi-finals and possibly, the grand final if Melbourne don’t beat New Zealand in the other semi-final series.
Adelaide have won three straight matches to enter the finals, but more impressively, they have found the free-running spirit which saw them climb to the top of the ladder last year.
In each of their last two wins over Brisbane and the Illawarra, they have scored more than 100 points and it’s this attacking mentality they will need if they are to get over a defence led by Damian Martin.
If Adelaide can find enough in their own defence to slow down Bryce Cotton and co. then they will certainly have enough points in them to match, with Mitch Creek, Daniel Johnson and Josh Childress all finding form.
Prediction
Game 1 is oh so important, especially in these three-game semi-final series. The Wildcats have all the finals experience, but their form has been sketchy at times and the 36ers have been on a march, playing with that aggressive intent which saw them make this stage last year.
I’m unsure if they win the series, but they should take a 1-0 lead.
36ers by 4.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of Game 1 from 7:30pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this evening on The Roar for our live coverage of the NBL semi-finals as the Adelaide 36ers went up 1-0 against the Perth Wildcats Hopefully you enjoyed it. I'll be back on Monday from 5:30pm (AEDT) for Game 2 of the Melbourne vs New Zealand series and again at 9:30pm (AEDT) next Friday for Game 2 of this one. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the game Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
Josh Childress is man of the match with his 22 points on 8 of 9 shooting to go with nine rebounds. Adelaide had Daniel Johnson (16), Mitch Creek (20), Nathan Sobey (15), Shannon Shorter (18) and Ramone Moore (10) all in double figures though. A complete team effort. Not much to like if you're Perth though.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME The drubbing is over. One more bucket for the Wildcats, but the 36ers will win by a staggering 35 points at home in Game 1 of the NBL semi-final series. I expected Adelaide to win, but that was impossible to predict. Adelaide simply ran the floor all night long, got in transition and dominated the boards to allow it to happen. That's the most points Perth have given up all season and they have a lot of soul searching to do before they try to keep the series alive on Friday night back at home. Adelaide 36ers - 109 Perth Wildcats - 74
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Doyle makes one. 36ers - 109 Wildcats - 72
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Drmic now fires for three and that's no good. Looked like Doyle down there getting the offensive board and he will go to the free throw line. 36ers - 108 Wildcats - 72
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' This has just been a smash up. Perth back with the ball and Kenny misses a three, before Vague gets the board and puts it back in. Breaks Adelaide's 12-0 run. 36ers - 108 Wildcats - 72
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Misses at both ends, then Teys turns it over with Vague in the way. Steindl then misses another three before the 36ers take off up the floor and Teys goes into the paint, scoring over Walker. 36ers - 108 Wildcats - 70
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' The Wildcats are all at sea here. Missing shots left right and centre, while the 36ers make a transition three, then have a ball poked over the baseline. Adelaide emptying the bench as well now. 36ers - 106 Wildcats - 70
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' This is the first time Perth have given up 100 all season. And the pain will continue here. Shorter now steps in, then back out and sinks the three! Lead up to 33. 36ers - 103 Wildcats - 70
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' The 36ers crack three figures here, before Cotton fires unsuccessfully from deep. 36ers - 100 Wildcats - 70
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' So then, Cotton is still out there and he goes to 22 with a corner three, before Johnson makes a bucket. Kenny a miss, then Deng makes a shot inside. 36ers - 98 Wildcats - 70
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 4' Well, this game is gone and the Wildcats are starting to empty the bench. Adelaide on the other hand, are trying to drive the nail in. 36ers - 96 Wildcats - 67
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' Timeout called by Perth. What does Trevor Gleeson say here? 36ers - 91 Wildcats - 65
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' Well, the biggest thing right now is for Perth to try and arrest some momentum ahead of Game 2. This one is clearly lost. Poor defence this time though. Shorter into Johnson who is fouled under the basket. 36ers - 89 Wildcats - 65
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 6' Creek will slow it down this time, linking with Sobey. He works to the corner, Creek finds some space at the high post and knocks down the jumper. 36ers - 89 Wildcats - 65
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 6' The 36ers working it around and this time it's Childress with a bullet pass into Shorter who scores. Back up the other end and Brandt kicks out to Martin who shoots for three, but that was desperation and is no good. 36ers - 87 Wildcats - 65
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 7' Cotton is good on both. 36ers - 85 Wildcats - 65
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 7' Perth need a timeout here, but they won't call one. Martin slows it down and looks for something at a higher percentage than what they have been dishing up. Cotton in the corner and he is fouled by Sobey. 36ers - 85 Wildcats - 62
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 7' Shorter on the drive and he is rejected by Brandt before Sobey throws up a heat check from closer to halfway, but that one misses. 36ers - 85 Wildcats - 62