Jerome Randle’s late three-point heroics seal dramatic NBL triumph for Adelaide 36ers away to New Zealand Breakers
It took another Jerome Randle masterclass and a game-sealing three-pointer at the death. But Adelaide 36ers have made it four wins from five after holding off a fast-finishing New Zealand Breakers.
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Another Jerome Randle masterclass, highlighted by a game-sealing three-pointer at the death, has inspired Adelaide 36ers to a heart-stopping win in New Zealand.
The point guard racked up a game-high 29 points to secure a tense 99-96 success over the Breakers at Spark Arena on Sunday and steer his side to its fourth win in five games.
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But the Sixers, who led by 20 midway thought the second quarter, should have iced the contest long before Randle’s bucket from beyond the arc with 2.3 seconds left on the clock.
The tough road triumph came less than 48 hours after Randle again shone in a similarly gripping two-point home victory against South East Melbourne Phoenix.
But coach Joey Wright will have plenty of food for thought, as his fourth-placed unit (8-7) returns to Adelaide ahead of Friday night’s encounter with Illawarra:
GOOD TRAVELLERS
The 36ers might have been forgiven for some early sluggishness following a punishing encounter with the Phoenix and a long trip across the ditch.
Instead they blew the hosts away in the opening period, grabbing 35 points and a handy buffer of 12 to eliminate any concerns of travel weariness.
Wright praised his charges during a first-quarter time-out for doing the “little things” well, after they out-hustled and outworked an initially underwhelming Breakers.
DEFENSIVE CONCERNS
Adelaide’s offence was firing as they racked up 60 points in a powerful first-half display, landing 63 per cent from the field and 67 per cent from three-point territory.
Big man Daniel Johnson scored 19 of his 26 before the main break, including five straight buckets to help his team build what looked an unassailable lead.
But Wright warned of a lack of defensive intensity, as New Zealand closed to within 10 and laid the platform for its second-half comeback.
Eric Griffin (14 points, eight rebounds, three blocks) showed the desperation his mentor wanted at both ends of the court, but eventually fouled out late in the game.
RANDLE’S HIGHLIGHT REEL
He hit 26 points to see off the Phoenix two days earlier and Sixers star Randle picked up where he left off against the Breakers.
The 32-year-old produced a dazzling dribble and jump shot among a string of first-half highlights to push Adelaide out by 19 early in the second quarter.
He landed another big three in the third period, despite the Breakers tying the contest up just before the last change, and appeared destined to have the final say in a dramatic conclusion.
HOME STRETCH HEROICS
An improbable tight finish became a reality, as Sek Henry (20 points) and then Jarrad Weeks produced triples to hand the Breakers an unlikely two-point lead with 6 mins 47 secs left.
Both teams were plagued by a series of turnovers, before Anthony Drmic’s three looked to have regained the 36ers’ momentum, only for Rob Loe’s dunk to get the hosts to within one.
Veteran Daniel Dillon hit only one of three free throws after Scotty Hopson’s foul, allowing Henry to again square the match 40 seconds from the final buzzer.
But Randle showed his cool head, when everyone else was losing theirs, to run down the clock and deliver the type of clutch moment he has built his glittering career on.
Originally published as Jerome Randle’s late three-point heroics seal dramatic NBL triumph for Adelaide 36ers away to New Zealand Breakers