NBL21: Adelaide 36ers set record for futility in horror loss to New Zealand Breakers

The Adelaide 36ers have put together the worst first quarter in recent NBL history in a stunning capitulation against New Zealand.

A few days after they scored just eight points in the opening 10 minutes against Melbourne United, the sputtering Sixers stumbled into the first break down 32-6, the 26-point margin the worst in the league’s 40-minute era.

The first-quarter stats are as ugly as it gets:

– Six points

– Just two makes from 14 attempts – 1/7 from deep and 1/7 from inside the arc.

– Six turnovers

– Just 1 assist and 1 steal

– They allowed New Zealand to make 12 of their 15 shots for 32 points

After their shocking opener against United (down 31-8), the Sixers would pull it together and go on to outscore Melbourne 63-46 the rest of the game, getting as close as four before they were closed out at the free throw line.

There would be no such recovery in this one.

Down 60-30 at the long break against a side without injured star import Lamar Patterson and Rob Loe, who has returned to New Zealand for personal reasons, it only got worse, the final buzzer putting the Sixers out of their collective misery — a 44-point margin the final result, 106-62.

The Webster brothers, Tai and Corey, finished the game with 29 each, almost outscoring the Sixers by themselves, Tai adding 11 assists to record a double-double.

It was the Breakers’ first NBL Cup victory — after losing their past four games by double digits — and they are the first team to clean sweep all the points on offer by winning every quarter.

The Sixers have just one win from five games in Melbourne, and their next task is the Illawarra Hawks Thursday.

HURT HUMPHRIES

As if the first-quarter performance wasn’t bad enough, their best player Isaac Humphries limped from the court with a foot injury from what appeared to be an innocuous contest on the baseline.

He tried to warm up, but was ruled out by Adelaide medicos just after halftime.

Humphries was the top scorer in both games against the Breakers this season — both wins — and the Sixers are unbeaten when he scores 21 or more.

Without their big talisman, all hope was lost.

AN ABSOLUTE TONY CROCKER

If Adelaide had nailed their imports this season, they would be challenging for some silverware with their elite Aussie talent.

Unfortunately they didn’t.

Donald Sloan was sent packing after an underwhelming start. And Tony Crocker hasn’t been much better.

Scoreless in 19 minutes his first bucket came with under five minutes to go in the game — and his side down by 41 points.

Before that, he was 0-5 with no rebounds, no steals, a turnover and 1 assist.

It’s not Crocker’s fault they were belted but, at the same time, he didn’t give a yelp.

JACK IN THE BOX

He didn’t play in the first quarter but, deployed by coach Conner Henry to start the second, Jack McVeigh (20pts) went about trying to restore some respectability.

While his side was still down 30, the 24-year-old Cabarita Beach product had himself a second-quarter with 16 points — more than half the Sixers’ 30 at halftime — with four three-pointers and four rebounds.

The next best scorer at the long break was bench cult figure Brendan Teys … with just 4.

BROTHERS IN ARMS

There is a knock that these two boys shoot too much — and sometimes it’s valid — but there’s no doubt when the Webster boys get on a heater, it’s a thing of beauty.

While Corey was a mainstay for so long for the Breakers, younger brother Tai is now the man and the pair combined for 38 points in the first half on 13-19 shooting (Tai 21, Corey 17) — eight more than the Sixers managed for the whole half. Tai also dished out eight first-half dimes, meaning the Webster brothers had a hand in 21 of the Breakers’ 22 makes.

Corey Webster acknowledged it was “awesome” to play with his brother, “but it’s not really about that, though, we’re a team, we’re the Breakers.”

FRIENDLY FIRE

Kiwi jet Finn Delany and import teammate Colton Iverson were both forced to leave the court after a nasty head clash in the third quarter.

Both men had blood spilling from around their faces after their heads met in the lane and were forced into the changerooms for repairs.

It forced a long break for clean up works and the two emerged with some patchwork around their faces.

Originally published asBroken Adelaide sets horror NBL record

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