The Adelaide 36ers have made it four straight wins after defeating the New Zealand Breakers 109-98 in basketball's NBL.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Captain Daniel Johnson (28 points) and Nathan Sobey (21 points 12 rebounds, six assists) were magnificent for the Sixers who consolidated their spot in the top four after their victory at Titanium Security Arena.
Shea Ili (19 points), Jarrad Weeks (18) and Finn Delany (18) had a crack for the visitors who were busy early and gallant throughout but were ultimately undone by foul troubles (31-19).
The 36ers were error-riddled and untidy at times early and found themselves in a 10-point hole before Jacob Wiley's monster slam sparked the home side to reduce the Breakers' lead to 29-26 at quarter-time.
Johnson had nine points in the second term and Majok Deng scored six straight points in one minute as Adelaide got on top.
Wiley's athletic alley-oop from a Sobey feed made it 54-42 before NZ closed the half with triples to Weeks and Corey Webster to close the gap to six points at the main interval.
Sobey and Demetrius Conger were instrumental in Adelaide's 11-0 start to the third stanza as the the home side blew the difference out to 20 points.
The Breakers, piloted by Delany, seized some momentum late with a 9-1 run to close the deficit to nine points at three-quarter-time before making further inroads to start the fourth.
But with Shawn Long, Delany, Tai Wesley and Ili fouling out and Johnson taking control offensively, the 36ers were never seriously threatened again.
- AAP