THE Adelaide 36ers have ended their National Basketball League (NBL) regular season on a winning note, defeating the New Zealand Breakers by six points at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Sunday afternoon.
With finals out of the equation, the Sixers looked to end their campaign on a high and carry momentum into next season, while a number of players were looking to prove they deserve a spot on the list moving forward.
For the Breakers, a victory over the Brisbane Bullets secured a finals spot, and if they defeated the Sixers by five or more points, they would jump up to fourth spot and knock the Illawarra Hawks down to fifth.
It was not to be, with the 36ers jumping out to a hefty lead and holding on to spoil New Zealand’s party to the tune of six points.
Adelaide 36ers (76) def. New Zealand Breakers (70)
To start the game, both teams were putting an emphasis on defensive work, getting stops and pushing the tempo with ball in hand in an entertaining opening quarter. The Sixers led by three at the first change, but the Breakers remained in the hunt as both sides lifted their offensive output in the second quarter, although Adelaide kept its nose in front.
Kyrin Galloway, Dejan Vasiljevic and Nick Marshall were the standout performers in the first half, helping the Sixers give a two-point lead at the main break.
Whilst the Breakers won the second quarter, and looked to carry the momentum forward and open the game up in transition, the Sixers bounced back and won the third quarter 21-12 to regain control of the match.
Although the Breakers won the last quarter 23-18, the Sixers still held on when it mattered most, which resulted in a 76-70 win.
Vasiljevic stepped up in big moments when the Sixers needed a scoring punch, finishing the game as the top scorer with 25 points, 14 rebounds, four assists. Big man Isaac Humphries played a pivotal role inside the post, pouring in 15 points, six rebounds, two steals and one assist.
Marshall and Galloway made their opportunities count in the starting lineup, both finishing with eight points each.
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