Basketball On The Internet.

THE "full house" sign was out for the Adelaide 36ers last night for the first time since Game 2 of the 2013-14 NBL grand Final and what a night it proved.

From go-to-whoa, the atmosphere was electric, as it always is at Titanium Security Arena, but when it's packed, it turns back into its old identity as "The Fortress".

Melbourne United blew the Sixers off the court in the corresponding game last year - remember that shuddering 3-point blitz? - but this time it was Daniel Johnson with the long-range bombardment.

It marked the first time in DJ's career he made five triples in an NBL  game and the first time this season for any Adelaide 36er.

He also became the first player in 40-minute NBL-game history to record five 3-pointers and have 15 or more rebounds in the same game. He finished with 16 boards and was 5-of-5 from long-range in the first half. He concluded with 5-of-7 but spent more of the second half attacking the rim with a venom we haven't seen before.

For the record, and with all due acknowledgement to @nblfacts, the last player to make five threes and snare 16 rebounds was Hawks' legend Glen Saville in December of 2006. That's right, nine years ago.

The only other 36er to do that was Mark Davis in 1992. (There's a reason Saville and Davis have their singlet numbers retired and hanging at their respective home venues.)

But not only was there plenty of Johnson, there was this:

After it led up like this:

And there was even time for some of this:

I mean really, we know the officiating this season has been all over the shop like a dog's breakfast but this surely is way past the line NBL refs boss Albert Joseph drew in the sand when he decreed refs would have greater dialogue with players and coaches.

Dean Demopoulos already had incurred one tech foul BEFORE he carried on like this! Not saying he didn't have a case for annoyance. But come on, is this the way to go about it?

Oh, did I forget to mention, there was also some of this:

As Jerome Randle wracked up a 29-point, nine-assist, seven-rebound effort.

The 36ers punched their lead out to 12 during the second quarter and held fan favourite Chris Goulding scoreless to the main interval. It didn't take much for him to get the crowd offside, a short defensive rebound elbow jab to Adam Gibson's chest - which Gibson milked, ironically a la Goulding - had the fans seeing red.

Goulding hit 3-of-3 threes in the third - try saying that with a lisp - but only added a free throw in the last. However United had Hakim Warrick finding the openings and Daniel Kickert hit some shots and suddenly the visitors were up.

Time for an 11-point, two-assist Randle last quarter, with Johnson cleaning the board with six of his 16.

The only thing I didn't understand was why Joey Wright wasn't more protective of the margin. United won its two Melbourne games by 9 and 3 for a 2-0 season-series lead, plus a +12 points differential.

If the 36ers are to make the playoffs, United is most likely their best target in the four. Now with their series at 1-2, with a further game in Adelaide, the 36ers also could have erased the deficit.

They led 91-79 with 16 seconds left as Stephen Holt took two free throws. When he made them, why not have a time-out booked in?

Advance the ball, run a play and maybe erase the points spread altogether?

Just a thought.

SYDNEY Kings assistant coach Ben Knight, 39, will join the playing roster for Sunday's home game against New Zealand.

The tragic loss of Julian Khazzouh to a season-ending injury means the Kings' big man stocks are low so this is less a "comeback" for Knight than a fill in.

Shane Froling apparently is ready to rejoin Townsville's roster if Luke Schenscher is out much longer.

Oh, and last night there was plenty of this, too:

Last night: ADELAIDE 36ERS 91 (Johnson 31, Randle 29, Ere 9; Johnson 16 rebs; Randle 9 assts) d MELBOURNE UNITED 81 (Warrick, Kickert 20, Holt 12, Blanchfield, Goulding 10; Blanchfield 9 rebs; Holt 3 assts) at The Fortress, Titanium Security Arena.