Adelaide bucked a slow start, whipping last placed team Cairns, 82-71, in the 2021-22 National Basketball League season, Sunday at Adelaide Entertainment Centre.
Down 23-9 to start the game, the 36ers stormed back with a 25-11 second quarter to turn the game in their favor.
Playing a huge part in the second quarter storm was Kai Sotto, whose presence on the floor changed the tempo of the game.
The 7-foot-3 Filipino prospect had five points on 1-of-4 shooting with five rebounds and a game-high three blocks. Sotto went a plus-14 on the floor.
It was all Adelaide from there, leading by as much as 15 points, 71-56, after a Tad Dufelmeier bucket with 4:16 left.
Adelaide went up to 5-7 in the standings while dropping Cairns to 3-8.
Adelaide was led by Daniel Johnson with 18 points and nine rebounds to go along with two blocks. Mitch Mccarron and Sunday Dech got 14 and 13 points, respectively.
It was not only a bounce back win for the 36ers, who were coming off a heartbreaking 77-73 loss to Brisbane last February 11. The triumph also evened their series with the Taipans, who defeated the 36ers, 93-67, last December 18.
Stephen Zimmerman paced Cairns with 21 points and 14 rebounds while Majok Deng added 12 markers. The Taipans though only played with 10 healthy bodies.
Up next for Adelaide is Illawarra on February 25 at WIN Entertainment Centre.
