Humphries delivers as 36ers overcome T-Web's Breakers

For the second time in five days Adelaide Entertainment Centre hosted an NBL overtime thriller and on Friday it was breakout superstar night with Isaac Humphries just leading the Adelaide 36ers to a 94-91 win over Tai Webster and the New Zealand Breakers.

The 36ers had already played three games in #NBL21 coming into Friday night's encounter which was the first of the season for the Breakers with the Sixers also having had the experience of a double overtime win against the South East Melbourne Phoenix on Sunday.

They then had a tough loss to the Phoenix to try and bounce back from on Wednesday but this is a Breakers team full of talent while having plenty against them including having now been away from home for nearly two months and missing Corey Webster.

But Corey had sent out a warning message about what his younger brother Tai was going to bring to the NBL this season and he more than delivered on Friday night in Adelaide.

The point guard might not have been making his debut as he did make six appearance for the Breakers as a development player in 2013, but he made one of a hell of a first impression and went ever so close to leading New Zealand to the win.

He ended the night with 34 points, seven rebounds and six assists including shooting 5/9 from three-point territory including the shot to put the Breakers up 82-79 with 47 seconds left in regulation.

Donald Sloan responded for Adelaide for the game to go to overtime as he produced the best of his four-game NBL career with 12 of his 20 points coming in the fourth quarter and overtime.

Even though Josh Giddey returned for the 36ers, this was a night where Isaac Humphries showed just how much of a man he is on return to the NBL. 

Not only did he prove unstoppable in the block for 24 points on 11/15 and he pulled in 11 rebounds, but he was simply brilliant as a defensive intimidator. 

He blocked a Lamar Patterson shot late that was a game saver, he denied Webster's attack on the rim too at the end of regulation and he was credited with five blocks but he changed plenty more to be the most influential player on the floor.

It was a critical win for the 36ers as they improve to 2-2 with both wins coming in overtime.

Daniel Johnson was forced to battle hard but still had 16 points and eight rebounds with Tony Crocker adding 11 points, Sunday Dech 10 and Jack McVeigh five. Dech also had nine rebounds and three steals, and his defence late on Patterson was critical in the result.

Sixers coach Conner Henry changed up the starting line-up with Isaac Humphries and Josh Giddey coming in. 

Donald Sloan responded well off the bench and given the win was the end result, Henry was relieved post-match.

"We hit some big shots when we needed to and Isaac had a great game with five blocks, 24 and 11," Humphries said.

"We got some contributions and we're growing as a team even though we're not there by any means. Offensively we're not very good right now, defensively we have shown moments where we've been physical and closed plays down."

Patterson still had some big moments for New Zealand with 16 points and five rebounds with Finn Delany adding 16 points and nine boards. But when he went out with cramp with six minutes left and didn’t return, the Breakers dearly missed his energy.

Tom Abercrombie scored another 11 points and development player Rasmus Bach six on two threes.

Breakers coach Dan Shamir always knew their first up game was going to be tough and overtime added to the challenges.

"Obviously losing an overtime game hurts but the game developed and we did expect to struggle in the beginning after such a long time without a real game," he said.

"It always takes a few minutes to get used to the tempo and the environment, but we recovered and executed. We even gained control of the game and were up but the end was actually seeing a lot of players falling off their legs or out of gas. 

"We had to dig in and it was very tough to get a shot, sometimes it's just hard to simulate game conditions and environment. That's why the end of the game was tough and we are moving on."

It was a game of runs early with Adelaide making the first break with a run of 14 consecutive points including Tony Crocker and Sunday Dech triples to lead 22-8.

New Zealand responded with their own 9-0 but the Sixers closed the quarter with a Donald Sloan three to lead 29-19.

The runs continued in the second with the Breakers hitting seven quick points before a Daniel Johnson four-point play. But the Breakers then scored 10 of the next 12 points including threes to youngsters Kyrin Galloway and Rasmus Bach to take a lead.

But by half-time, Adelaide narrowly led 44-42 before the Breakers took control in the third starting with a 17-4 run with Tai Webster hitting nine of those.

They were still up 70-62 by three quarter-time but the trend continued with the 36ers responding with the first nine points of the fourth to take the lead. Tom Abercrombie stepped up for New Zealand once Finn Delany went off with cramp but it was a thrilling finish.

Webster hit his third triple to put the Breakers up 82-79 before Sloan responded. The Breakers had one last chance and Webster got to the hole, but Isaac Humphries denied him. 

Then in overtime, Adelaide threatened to breakaway with Humphries' efforts inside but two more Webster threes kept scores tied. That changed with Dech forcing a couple of turnovers on Patterson with Adelaide sealing the win at the line through Johnson, Sloan and Tony Crocker.

The two teams do it all again on Wednesday back at Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 2

ADELAIDE 36ERS 94 (Humphries 24, Sloan 20, Johnson 16)

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 91 (Webster 34, Patterson 16, Delany 16) 

BOX SCORE