Adelaide 36ers leave NBA world in awe after Phoenix Suns upset

The Adelaide 36ers have left the basketball world stunned by upsetting the Phoenix Suns in a pre-season match courtesy of an eye-popping shooting performance.

The NBL side travelled to the United States to take on the Suns on Monday, with a subsequent match-up against the Oklahoma City Thunder soon to follow.

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NBL teams have taken part in pre-season hitouts against NBA opposition for several years, but the 36ers became the first to win one against the world's best.

Toppling the Suns was no mean feat, even for a pre-season game, given they topped the NBA's Western Conference with 64 wins last season.

Though the Suns' biggest stars only played roughly 25 minutes apiece, the starting group of Chris Paul, Davin Booker, Deandre Ayton, Cam Johnson and Mikal Bridges trailed the 36ers for most of the game.

The import duo of Robert Franks (32 points) and Craig Randall (35) put on a shooting display for the ages, leaving their teammates in disbelief on the bench as they combined to hit an astonishing 15 three-pointers between them as the 36ers surged to an unlikely 134-124 win.

To say the NBA world was left in shock would be an understatement, even considering the relatively low minutes played by their starters.

The last time an NBA team was beaten by overseas competition in a pre-season game came back in 2015, when European powerhouse Fenerbahce defeated the Brooklyn Nets back in 2015.

The Nets of 2015 weren't expected to compete for a championship and came nowhere near making the playoffs, while the Suns have been tipped once again to land at the pointy end of the Western Conference despite a somewhat tumultuous off-season.

On social media, NBA fans simply couldn't believe what they had seen from the 36ers.

Adelaide 36ers stun the NBA by defeating Phoenix Suns in pre-season

The 36ers are also the only team hailing from outside of Europe to accomplish the feat.

Behind forward Daniel Johnson (15 points) and guard Mitch McCarron (16 assists, nine rebounds, four points) the 36ers showed tremendous poise and some flourish to stay close.

And when the Suns' second unit, featuring NBL graduate Jock Landale (12 points, six rebounds) and former NBL import Torrey Craig (10 points, six rebounds), entered the match the 36ers exploded.

CJ Bruton's team surged to a 14-point lead and were never headed despite the returns of the Suns' starting unit in the second half.

Landale missed a shot that would have tied the scores, Randall draining three straight long triples to push them ahead again for a historic victory.

Randall, 26, announced himself with a most-improved showing in the secondary NBA G League earlier this season.

"I think he was in tears and I understand why; it's a big moment for everyone," Randall said on court after a post-game phone call to his father.

"I told you, we're not scared of nothing; I put my team against anybody.

"Playing in G league I found a rhythm and I'm locked in on the NBL season right now, will worry about the NBA when it comes.

"But I hoped everyone watched tonight; Adelaide is here."

Adelaide will complete their whistlestop US tour against Australian star Josh Giddey's Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday.

With AAP

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