Kai Sotto and Adelaide returned to the win column after staving off Illawarra, 103-95, in the 2022-23 NBL-Australia season, Friday at Adelaide Entertainment Centre.
Sotto started for the fifth straight time but only logged 10 minutes. Still, the 7-foot-3 big man produced seven points and six rebounds.
The Filipino sensation did not play in the final frame.
Still, the 36ers delivered when it mattered the most.
Adelaide relinquished a nine points lead and fell behind 89-81 midway through the final frame. But unlike their game against Cairns last Saturday, Adelaide fought back.
Back-to-back treys by Ian Clark and Antonius Cleveland gave the 36ers life while Mitch McCarron knotted the game at 89-all with two minutes left.
Robert Franks knocked down two straight triples to put Adelaide up for good.
Daniel Johnson and Anthony Drmic sealed the game with big baskets as Adelaide climbed up to 11-9 to tie Tasmania at fourth.
Johnson led the way with 18 points and eight rebounds. Meanwhile, Clark, Drmic, and Cleveland all put up 16 points each. Franks also chipped in 13 markers.
The Hawks, who fell to 2-18, were led by Tyler Harvey, who got 22 points.
Deng Deng added 19 points and seven rebounds, while Sam Froling finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
