"Wild" Kyle Adnam (#8) in action against the OKC Thunder earlier this week took the blowtorch to the Sixers tonight - Photo by ABC (Australia)
United jumped out of the blocks with a 7-0 run, but an early technical foul on Tai Wesley for an unfortunate hand gesture stirred up trouble early for Dean Vickerman’s men. Wright with a forced change with Shannon Shorter missing action with family bereavement in the line-up sent bench back-up guard Adam Doyle to Ware Jnr and he obliged by making a play early with United in foul trouble. The Sixers hustled hard on the glass early in the match but veteran Dave Andersen was making the Sixers life hard with 7 points in the opening quarter. In the absence of the dynamic Chris Goulding, “Wild” Kyle Adnam dropped two threes in the latter part of the quarter and United led 29-14 at the end of one.
Nathan Sobey applied some ball IQ early on with the heads up play to open the second to DJ for the free throw opportunities but was then answered by Adnam. United pushed the lead out to 20 points and alarm bells were ringing for the Sixers with Ware Jnr and Barlow getting in on the 3-point party. The Sixers found a little momentum after a timeout but even Josh Boone was running the lane as United looked like they were the “open court team” but two threes to Anthony Drmic who become the leading scorer with 13 points forced a timeout to United as momentum began to shift. Ramone Moore came up with the double play of the block and the sweet pass to Hodgson for the and1 when in a huge moment in the game, United import Casey Prather collided his knee with Mitch Creek both hustling for a loose ball. The Sixers continued to create through Moore and large minutes to a freed-up Hodgson and the Sixers had pushed their way back into the game 48-54. In a crucial stat, the Sixers were leading the rebound count 29-15 and had lifted their field goal percentage from 19 to 41 percent by the half in a 34-point quarter.
Drmic started the second half but Prather didn’t out of the game as both teams traded scores with Adnam continuing to be a menace for the Sixers. Cutting it to single figures the Sixers kept taking it at United’s front court but Boone was becoming the most influential player in the game, Wesley finger rolled back-to-back and timeout was burned by Wright trailing by 15 with 3:37 to go in the third. A Creek to Majok Deng alley got the crowd back into it followed by a Deng triple. Alan Wiggins Jnr got on the board through another offensive rebound then Drmic pulled off the euro step through the forest for the and1. The Sixers came up with a play with two seconds on the clock for an inspiring Creek slam to cut it to 70-77 at three quarter time.
Wesley and Boone opened the quarter for United with the first 6 points and the Sixers called a quick timeout with Wright rolling the dice on an unsettled Wiggins Jnr. Adnam then nailed a dagger for a career best to push the margin out to 18. The Sixers couldn’t buy a field goal shooting nought of ten in the first half of the quarter. United then rotated through their bench as the Sixers kept shooting at a hoop that clearly had a lid on it as Moore scored the Sixers first field goal with 35 seconds left in the game. United closing out an emphatic victory 99-79 in a blistering two weeks for the club from Melbourne.
The dynamic Mitch Creek led the way for the Sixers and didn’t drop his head with 20 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Drmic provided the spark and hustle when Adelaide trailed by 20 early in the second with 16 points, 7 rebounds and 75 percent from the perimeter. The only pleasing statistic for Wright was that the Sixers won the rebound count 53-43 but probably only compelled the Sixers missed opportunities.
Adnam led the way with his career best 23 points at 66 percent including 6 of 8 three point makes while Ware Jnr finished strongly with 18 points and 8 assists. Boone also proved a thorn in the Sixers side with a double double of 18 points and 11 rebounds. United’s defence was on show in the statistics too as they registered 6 block shots, scored 29 points on turnovers and produced 12-3 in the steal count.
Melbourne United take a well earnt break till they come up in a blockbuster clash next Friday night against the Perth Wildcats at the Jungle, while the Sixers will welcome a Kings side potentially 0-3 desperate to win next Saturday night. Given Adelaide have dropped their first two at home, you don’t think the Sixers will be short on motivation to win that one.
Adelaide 36ers 79 (Creek 20, Drmic, Moore 16) defeated by Melbourne United 99 (Adnam 23, Ware Jnr, Boone 18, Wesley 12, Andersen 10) at Titanium Security Arena
Written by Tristan Prentice
CROSS OVER DRIBBLE 