Basketball On The Internet.

SERIOUSLY now, 56 fouls, yet so many bad ones missed? If we're talking about how terrific the NBL has been this season, the only place the conversation falters is at the officiating.

It routinely has been terrible and last night the trio on the Townsville-Adelaide game did so much to ruin what, with a 108-103 result, clearly was a high-scoring fun match for the fans and viewers.

The new faces guy? Not sure what he was trying to prove but 43 free throws for the 36ers?

And here's the thing. While the Crocs today would rightly be feeling hard done by - that late steal by Leon Henry from Jerome Randle looked pretty clean on the TV replay - the 36ers wouldn't have been thrilled either.

Jordair Jett twice was the recipient of the benefit-of-the-doubt foul calls against opponents when he simply drove and slipped. Lucas Walker and Randle both had fouls basically for being near Jett when he took off.

It was abysmal and some of the worst umpiring in a season where that one aspect of the game, for the most part, has been bleak as it is.

Jett had a terrific game for a career-best 29 points, with six assists and when Omar Samhan (that's him above) is swishing threes, you know your imports are rolling.

Foul trouble hindered Clint Steindl and Randle hindered the Crocs, with his NBL career-best haul of 34 points.

Daniel Johnson also was big again (20+11) and Adelaide once more found ways to overcome a very hot team for its fourth win in succession.

Today: WITH Adelaide beating Townsville, it has drawn level with New Zealand's 11-9 win-loss record, meaning a Breakers loss today at home to Illawarra will send the champs spiralling out of the top four and the 36ers in. That adds further spice to this contest, the Hawks cruising to a 3-0 record against NZ on Thursday and with every reason to feel confident about a sweep. I picked the Breakers earlier this week to get this but Illawarra really does appear to have their measure.

Last night: ADELAIDE 36ERS 108 (Randle 34, Johnson 20, Petrie 10; Johnson 11 rebs; Randle 6 assts) d TOWNSVILLE CROCODILES 103 (Jett 29, Norton, Samhan 21, Kay 14, Steindl 10; Samhan 8 rebs; Jett 6 assts) at The Jungle, Townsville Entertainment Centre.

TOMORROW: The NBL round wrapped, TV views, Player of the Week, plus some Brisbane Bullets personnel insight.