Adelaide 36ers star Dejan Vasiljevic has shot the lights out at the Cairns Convention Centre, unleashing an opening half decimation on the Taipans.
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Midway through the second quarter, the 27-year-old sharpshooter had an equal number of points to the entire Taipans roster, amassing 21 points and shooting 7-9 from three in the opening half before finishing with 32 points (11-23 FG and 10-21 from three).
Vasiljevic combined with Kendric Davis (27 points from 8-16 FG and nine assists) and former Los Angeles Laker Montrezl Harrell (17 points from 7-17 and 13 rebounds) to lead their side to a 99-75 victory following a difficult week off the floor.
“I was due for a game like this,” Vasiljevic said at half-time.
“Whatever the (Taipans) defence was giving me, I was taking. I was getting on the move in Perth and I just (managed) to make shots today.”
In a remarkable first-quarter run, Vasiljevic hit all six of his first six three-point attempts, sending the commentators wild.
“This is NBA Jam stuff right now from DJ. Unbelievable … Nothing is off limits right now for Vasiljevic,” ESPN caller Jack Heverin said.
NBL champion Damon Lowery dubbed Vasiljevic “The Human Torch”.
“DJ has never lost faith in himself. He knows who he is as a shooter,” Lowery told ESPN.
“It’s just good that his teammates recognised who he was and kept feeding him. They were running stuff for him, they let DJ be DJ.
“I love the way the bench was celebrating – they were all up on their feet every time he lets it go – that’s a good thing. Every player has got to feel that from time to time and it was good he got that feeling in the first half.”
Another season in the City of Churches has been plagued by off-court issues between star players and the coach.
Following the reported locker room blow-up between import point guard Davis and the 36ers head coach Mike Wells.
However, the ‘dysfunctional’ side had no problems dismantling the Taipans in front of a packed out Orange Army.
A disappointing display by the home side who came off 111-80 thrashing of the Brisbane Bullets on Friday evening, were all out of sorts defensively.
The Cairns side has now lost each of its last nine home games in a season to forget.
Taipans point guard Taran Armstrong (11 points from 4-12 FG and three assists) was outclassed by scoring machine Kendric Davis.
Snake’s twin towers Tanner Groves (23 points from 9-15 FG and nine rebounds) and Akoldah Gak (12 points and 10 rebounds) were the two standouts who battled hard from the opening tip-off.
Groves was dangerous from range, while having a presence around the glass.
The 38-12 opening quarter lead powered by Vasiljevic was always going to be hard for the Snakes to return from.
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However the elite duo of Davis and Harrell kept the scoreboard ticking over for the remainder of the match.
With Taipans hesitant to afford ‘DJ’ any space, the pick and roll combination of lightning quick Davis and paint beast Harrell took full advantage of the extra space.
Davis – who spent the pre-season in the NBA Summer League with the Portland Trailblazers – was able to thread the needle to the 2020 NBA sixth man of the year on a number of occasions, while Harrell’s passing is an underrated skill of his game.
Houston-born guard was averaging 25.3 points (49 per cent FG), 7.8 assists, 4 rebounds heading into the contest.
Kendric Davis has recorded 15+ points and 5+ assists in 16 consecutive appearances – longest active streak of any player in the league.
Former Taipans forward Lat Mayen racked up to eight rebounds against his former side.
— NCA NewsWire
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