Bruton takes responsibility for 36ers' loss

Adelaide coach CJ Bruton has taken full responsibility for a disappointing loss to an “undermanned” and “desperate” Breakers outfit.

In stark contrast to the Breakers, Adelaide went into Thursday night's clash with positive momentum off the back of an incredible comeback win over South East Melbourne in Round 8, and the impending return of star import Trey Kell III from injury.

Despite the absence of starting pair Zylan Cheatham and Will McDowell-White, the Breakers leapt out of the blocks to register a season-high 37 points in the first quarter to lead the 36ers by 20 at the first break, and Adelaide failed to recover.

New Zealand ended the game as 13-point winners, which left Bruton lamenting the slow start to the game.

“(It was a) disappointing start to the game, we allowed them to shoot the ball and get off to a start like that,” Bruton said following the defeat.

“Especially after the break we’ve had, I think that we had a pretty good week. (It) wasn’t our best showing.

“When you’re playing from that far behind even in the fourth quarter down 17 … To be able to bring that back pretty quickly and get within striking distance in the last four minutes, I take fault, some bad execution there in the last few minutes to be able to let it drift too far apart.”

The defeat has seen the Breakers leapfrog the 36ers on the ladder, which means Adelaide have dropped to ninth position with a road trip to Tasmania facing the side on Sunday.

The 36ers and JackJumpers last met in Round 6, where a Jordon Crawford-led Tasmania cruised to a ten-point win.

Club captain Mitch McCarron says his side needs to put Thursday's defeat in the rear-view mirror as soon as possible.

“(We) have to flush it,” McCarron said.

“We’ve got to go to Tasmania and get a win. There’s no point sooking and moping about.”

Adelaide and Tasmania will play on Saturday, December 2 at 8pm AEDT.