Montrezl Harrell and Keanu Pinder have inspired the Adelaide 36ers and the Perth Wildcats to very different yet equally impressive victories on a night of dominant big-men performances in the NBL.
The 36ers had dug themselves quite the hole at home to the Cairns Taipans with a 19-point first-half deficit, but Harrell was their shining light up to that point and then led the charge for the eventual 99-93 overtime victory.
Coming into the game at Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Friday night, Harrell had to step up for the 36ers in the absence of regular centre Isaac Humphries.
Despite the Sixers being down 16 at the half, Harrell already had 15 points, five rebounds and four blocks.
He kept that pace going with Keandre Davis jumping on board as they ended up winning in overtime to improve to a 5-3 record.
Harrell, a former NBA Sixth Man of the Year, is locked in to remain at Adelaide the rest of the NBL season and he finished with 36 points, 16 rebounds and five blocks on 11-of-20 shooting from the floor and 11-of-15 at the foul line.
Davis ended up with a brilliant second half for 29 points and eight assists, too, and he was full of praise for the leadership and example set by Harrell.
"Without him, I don't think we win that game," Davis said.
"In the first half he kept us in it and then in the second half, he did what he did in the first half and it's his energy that uplifts the group.
"He's a fiery competitor, I'm a fiery competitor and we go at it. I think me, him and coach we're probably the fieriest competitors here, and Trez brings that spirit up more than what he does on the stats sheet.
"His competitiveness gets everyone going because he plays so far and that rubs off on everybody else. With him being an older guy, his voice is everything and we just follow his energy."
Pinder then inspired a Wildcats team missing their starting back court of Bryce Cotton and Tai Webster by equalling his NBL career high of 34 points in the eventual 87-84 win at RAC Arena against the Sydney Kings.
It steadied the 'Cats season at 3-4 as well with Pinder showing just what an explosive and unstoppable player he can be when he's focused and motivated.
"This one meant a lot to me because I hadn't been playing so well," Pinder said.
"It always means more when you haven't been playing well and the things that we worked on in practice really made me more confident.
"It showed tonight the things that we worked on in practice and I'm really proud of the guys for fighting, getting the offensive rebounds and sticking with it the whole game. We fed off each other's energy and we played amazing. It was great."
