How to watch & talking points: Adelaide v SE Melbourne (Playoffs, Game 3)

Adelaide 36ers v South East Melbourne Phoenix
Tuesday, March 17, 7.30pm AEDT
Adelaide Entertainment Centre

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Talking points

Which superstar will have the final say
‍Across the first two games, it's been each team's MVP who has stood up and led from the front to record a win in the Series.

It was Bryce Cotton's heroics once again in Game 1, dropping 42 points, including a blistering perfect first quarter to put the 36ers in the driver's seat.

Then in Game 2 it was Nathan Sobey who erupted for a career-high 41 points, as the 35-year-old led an incredible third quarter comeback for the Phoenix. Which superstar has one last special performance in the tank to punch their ticket to a Championship Series?

Supporting cast watch
‍Both teams' supporting casts have been somewhat quiet by their standards, which could prove to be the difference in a deciding game.

For Adelaide, it's Zylan Cheathama and Flynn Cameron who have been the two most important pieces to the 36ers' success outside of Cotton.

On the other side, the Phoenix will be hoping Wes Iwundu or Ian Clark can have a breakout game to help take some pressure off Sobey.

What they're saying

36ers coach Mike Wells on the importance of home court advantage:
"We did well controlling the pace in the first half, and in the third quarter, they (the Phoenix) got it on their terms, and they got going a little bit.

"You have to give them credit, they're a good team, and it's a possession game. We would have liked to re-establish ourselves as we did in the first half, but we weren't able to do that.

"We were still fighting and engaged there in the fourth quarter, and we got some stops, but ended up with too many empty possessions on offence.

"[But] we head home now, and our crowd will be a factor in Game 3, and they've supported us all year.

"Nobody believes it, but we have been a good team. I'd rather be playing this game at home."

Phoenix coach Josh King on the keys to winning on Tuesday night:
"It's about being really disciplined with our foul discipline, pressuring the ball and not allowing them to just get into whatever action they want, and allowing Bryce to get into an easy scoring situation.

"If we play the way we did in the first half there, we probably won't have a chance to win the game on the road so we'll have to come out with better pace, and more desire, but I liked the response and it's always about how you respond.

"And here's the NBL headline – we've played them six times this year, it's 3-3 and we're going to Game 7 on Tuesday. Here we go."

Missing in action

Adelaide
Ben Griscti - Neck - TBC

South East Melbourne
No injuries listed.

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