Basketball On The Internet.

NEW Tasmania import David Johnson was the stand-out this time around as the JackJumpers staved off Adelaide 97-95 at the Blitz in Canberra, the 36ers suffering a seriously disruptive pre-game blow when young centre Ben Griscti was injured in an afternoon training mishap.

Already competing without Bryce Cotton, Montrezl Harrell and Isaac Humphries, Griscti sent a shockwave through the Sixers camp when he was caught under a collapsing backboard and basket support during the team's afternoon shootaround. 

It took two hours for an ambulance to arrive during which time fears were held for the parlous state of Griscti's neck and back, the young man still in a Canberra hospital.

Hardly the ideal scenario for any player or team, the 36ers did well to make a fair fist of their clash with the Jackies, Michael Harris and Isaac White two to step up.

Zylan Cheatham (17 points, 6 boards) worked hard to combat Tassie's interior advantage, Blake Jones seeing more action in Griscti's absence.

And in the last quarter, Flynn Cameron was magnificent, almost guiding his team to the summit before former 36er Nick Marshall struck a 3-point body blow for Tasmania and a 92-86 lead.

Adelaide took the game the distance but once again Josh Bannan (15 points at 86 per cent, five rebounds, two assists) struck the late basket which determined the outcome.

Battered on the boards 52-34, Brisbane showed absentees Tyrell Harrison, Alex Ducas and Jacob Holt will be crucial to its cause, especially if its three imports are well contained, as they were by United.

Melbourne was considerably slicker than in its opening night demise to Perth, PG Tyson Walker (18 points at 67 per cent, 2-of-2 threes, 6 assists) sharp and Jesse Edwards (14 points at 86 per cent, 11 rebounds, two blocks) controlling the keyways.

Finn Delany's 15 points were at 100 per cent from the floor, Kyle Bowen's 10 at 80 as the Bullets folded along the dotted lines, outscored 34-4 in the final period.

Yes, you read that correctly, 34-4, Brisbane mustering a meagre 60-point total which even Aaron Fearne thought was low. (*One for NBL oldies).

BLITZ SCORES:

Perth Wildcats 84 (Henshall 16, Windler, Okwera 12, Mayen 10; Henshall 7 rebs; 3 with 2 assts) d Melbourne United 78 (Doyle 15, Edwards 13, Delany 12; Edwards 9 rebs; Doyle 3 assts) at AIS Arena. Q-Q: 23-17, 21-22, 24-29, 16-10. Blitz Pts: Perth 5, Melbourne 2

Adelaide 36ers 104 (White 20, Vasiljevic 17, Cameron 16, Kubank 14, Griscti 13, Cheatham 10; Cheatham 6 rebs; White 6 assts) d Illawarra Hawks 83 (Hickey 14, Grida 12, Swaka Lo Buluk, Blanchfield 11; Grida 10 rebs; H.Froling 3 assts) at AIS Arena. Q-Q: 23-17, 21-21, 31-23, 29-22. Blitz Pts: Adelaide 6.5, Illawarra 0.5

Brisbane Bullets 100 (Freeman-Liberty 27, Adams 18, Prather 16, Dalton 10; McDaniel, Smith-Milner 6 rebs; Adams 6 assts) d Sydney Kings 92 (Soares 22, Leaupepe 14, Cooks 12, Galloway 10; Cooks 9 rebs; Dellavedova 10 assts) at AIS Arena. Q-Q: 18-28, 24-21, 31-22, 27-21. Blitz Pts: Brisbane 6, Sydney 1

Tasmania JackJumpers 97 (Hamilton 25, Bannan 22, Campbell 14, Deng 10; Bannan 11 rebs; Campbell 8 assts) d Cairns Taipans 95 (Schofield 24, McVeigh 18, Stattmann 17, Galloway 12, Waardenburg 11; Lee 11 rebs; Stattman 6 assts) in overtime {87-87} at AIS Arena. Q-Q: 18-7, 27-33, 19-23, 23-24*, 10-8* (=33-32). Blitz Pts: Tasmania 5, Cairns 2

New Zealand Breakers 109 (Brockington 22, Mennenga 20, Te Rangi, Jackson-Cartwright 15, Darling 14, Bairstow 12; Brockington 13 rebs; Jackson Cartwright 5 assts) d South East Melbourne Phoenix 101 (Hunter 21, Lewis 15, Sobey 13, Foxwell, Glover, Maldonado 11, Mitchell 10; Lewis, Sobey 6 rebs; Sobey 5 assts) at AIS Arena. Q-Q: 31-27, 28-26, 27-22, 23-26. Blitz Pts: New Zealand 6, South East 1

Illawarra Hawks 100 (McLaughlin 24, Harvey 22, Peatling 21, Blanchfield 14, Bolden 10; Blanchfield, Bolden 7 rebs; McLaughlin 5 assts) d Perth Wildcats 92 (Windler 27, Okwera 12, Pepper 11; Russo-Nance 8 rebs; Rillie, Russo-Nance, Henshall 5 assts) at AIS Arena. Q-Q: 26-34, 22-28, 34-21, 18-9. Blitz Pts: Illawarra 5, Perth 2

Melbourne United 98 (Walker 18, Delany 15, Edwards 14, Bowen 10; Edwards 11 rebs; Walker 6 assts) d Brisbane Bullets 60 (Smith-Milner 16, Adams 10; Bradtke, Purchase 5 rebs; Freeman-Liberty 4 assts) at AIS Arena. Q-Q: 20-11, 23-28, 21-17, 34-4. Blitz Pts: Melbourne 6, Brisbane 1

Tasmania Jack Jumpers 97 (Johnson 25, Bannan 15, Magnay 14, Deng 13, Campbell 10; Magnay 8 rebs; Campbell 8 assts) d Adelaide 36ers 95 (Harris, White 18, Cheatham 17, Cameron 15, Vasiljevic 14; Cheatham 6 rebs; White 5 assts) at AIS Arena. Q-Q: 21-22, 23-19, 32-27, 21-27. Blitz Pts: Tasmania 5, Adelaide 2

Tomorrow: Sydney Kings v South East Melbourne Phoenix, New Zealand Breakers v Cairns Taipans (Kayo & Disney+)