THIS weekend is jam-packed with some exciting National Basketball League (NBL) action on the schedule for Round 16, as the competition continues to approach the upcoming finals series. Friday night saw the Cairns Taipans travel south to take on the Adelaide 36ers at Adelaide Entertaninment Centre, as both sides look to improve their record as the postseason edges closer by the week. It was a hard round to predict, with both sides showing promising signs over recent weeks, but struggling throughout the season overall.

In quite a powerful showing, the 36ers produced a terrific performance for their fans in the crowd, simply outperforming the Taipans to storm away with a 26-point triumph, their sixth of the season.

It was a true four-quarter performance from the victors, winning every term in convincing fashion. They got the better of their opponent in the first term, with Mitch McCarron nailing back-to-back threes. The sharpshooting of the home side was their biggest strength as they took a four-point lead into the first break. From here, they built on their lead, and if there was any doubt over the result of the match, it was gone in the final term. Adelaide was ruthless in this time, outscoring their opponents 22-6 in this time, and turning the match into a bit of a blowout as the final margin exceeded 25 points.

Team Stats:

It was a pretty dominant showing from the 36ers in many of the key statistical categories, especially from behind the arc. Their ability to nail shots from downtown was one of the biggest differences between Adelaide and its opponents. They made nearly half of their shots from behind the three-point line, while the Taipans struggled in a big way in this area.

Adelaide was also impressive in its defence of the interior, swatting seven attempted field goals for the Taipans. Leading the way in this category was the trio of Kai Sotto, Sunday Dech and Mojave King, all of whom recorded two apiece.

The 36ers have a tough task in their next matchup, facing off against the reigning champs in United, while the Taipans will be eager to bounce back in their clash against the Bullets, with both matches taking place on Sunday.