Adelaide 36ers down bitter rival Perth Wildcats by three points to snap three-match losing streak
Adelaide 36ers have opened the new year with a tense, but morale-boosting, win over traditional rival Perth Wildcats to snap a three-match losing streak and get their flagging playoff hopes back on track.
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NEW year, new decade, new start for the 36ers.
Adelaide opened 2020 with a tense, but morale-boosting win over traditional rival Perth Wildcats at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Wednesday.
The 100-97 success snapped the Sixers’ three-match winless streak and the mid-season form slump which was in danger of derailing a promising campaign.
It also powered the SA club (9-10) back into playoff contention ahead of a challenging run home to the end of the regular campaign.
Eric Griffin led the way for the hosts with a game-high 24 points in a team display that was slightly flat in patches, but highly-effective in devastating offensive bursts.
Reigning champion Perth overturned a 12-point deficit at the last break to hit the front midway through the final term, as Adelaide was punished for a string of sloppy turnovers.
But the 36ers dug deep to thanks to a 10-point scoring run at the death to get their stuttering season back on track.
NO MORE MR NICE GUY
Sixers coach Joey Wright accused his team of being “too buudy-buddy” and “too nice” following Sunday’s nine-point home loss to New Zealand.
Adelaide failed to show the passion and intensity that their US mentor was calling for during a mostly sluggish opening period, as the Wildcats got out by 10 midway through the term.
But an unlikely three-pointer to co-captain Brendan Teys, as well as a driving lay-up and treble by Griffin (18 points for the half), got the hosts to within two at the first break.
Jack McVeigh came off the bench to score from outside the arc and put Adelaide in front for the first time early in the second, as the home side’s hunger grew at both ends of the court.
The Sixers stretched their lead to nine thanks to more offensive aggression from Griffin, but Mitchell Norton’s buzzer beater from beyond three-quarter court cut the half-time gap to four.
UNSUNG HEROES
WA-born Daniel Johnson (12 points, 7 rebounds) was strangely subdued in the first half, shooting 0/5 from the field until his second-quarter long bomb sparked him to life.
Fellow star man Jerome Randle (13 points) also landed just four in the opening two periods combined, before a trademark third-term three set him up for some vital late contributions.
Instead it was some of Adelaide’s less heralded names who stepped up, in a promising indication of the club’s depth approaching the last third of the minor round.
Griffin was a clear standout, but Anthony Drmic (18 points, six boards) had a big all-court impact.
Glue-guy Teys’ (13 points) impressive effort was summed up when he clinically finished off a slick team move to set up a commanding buffer as the teams turned for home..
HOME STRETCH HURDLES
Adelaide was outscored 26-18 during the fourth quarter of its loss to the Breakers, having been within one of the Kiwi outfit at the last break.
The final term again got off to an ominous start against the second-placed Wildcats, as a Norton lay-up and Clint Steindl triple cut the Sixers’ lead to seven.
Home fans’ nerves were jangling when a steal and dunk by Perth’s 22-point US guard Bryce Cotton, a constant menace throughout, got the visitors to within three.
A big defensive block and triple by Griffin steadied the ship momentarily, before a pair of Cotton jump shots put the Wildcats in front.
But big buckets to Drmic and Ramone Moore regained the Sixers’ buffer with 1 minute 34 seconds to go, then a pair of Johnson offensive rebounds sealed the much-needed triumph.
TOUGH ROAD AHEAD
The 36ers, who narrowly missed the post-season on points percentage last summer, now sit just one victory adrift of the four with nine regular season matches remaining.
But things won’t get any easier for Adelaide, which must travel to face competition-leader Sydney Kings on Saturday.
The team from the Harbour City will be stinging after back-to-back defeats put its grip on top spot in doubt for the first time this season.
Wright’s men will need to bring the same fighting spirit and will-to-win it produced for the most part against Perth if it is to pull off a big road triumph.
Originally published as Adelaide 36ers down bitter rival Perth Wildcats by three points to snap three-match losing streak