DJ gets the crowd going, then silences it

DJ Vasiljevic never wanted to leave Adelaide. On Sunday he returned as a Breaker, and he showed the 36ers exactly what they let go.

Vasiljevic still had a year to run on his contract after last season's Championship Series run when the Sixers released him, a move that caught him off guard. Five games into life in New Zealand, it's looking like a blessing in disguise, and playing alongside Parker Jackson-Cartwright is a big reason why.

The 29-year-old two-time champion is shooting a career-best 50 per cent from three-point range so far this season, going 15/30 across five games for the Breakers, who improved to 3-2 with Sunday's win in Adelaide.

Vasiljevic added another 15 points on 3/5 shooting from deep against his old team, and while the occasion was an emotional one, he was thankful for the reception he received from the Sixers faithful.

"Yeah, it was a bit emotional at the start and I didn't know what kind of reception I'd get, but obviously when I ran out I got a nice one, and I just kicked into gear because of how important this game was for us," Vasiljevic said.

"We hadn't won on the road yet, but we stuck at it. There were patches where we didn't do well offensively, but the defence held up and we were able to control it in that last term.

"We arrived on Friday, and just walking through the city, going back to different places where people recognise you and thank you for your time, that was awesome, honestly.

"Just to come back here, the atmosphere's always the best playing here and they always sell out, so it was awesome to come back, and the only thing that matters is that we got the win."

Vasiljevic might not have wanted to leave, but his new home is agreeing with him. He's averaging 13.4 points a game in NBL27 in 25.4 minutes, up from 10.9 points in 25.1 minutes last season.

Jackson-Cartwright, meanwhile, continues to be highly underrated around the League, and he had another 27 points, 10 assists, nine rebounds, two blocks and two steals against the 36ers.

Vasiljevic had nothing but high praise for his teammate.

"He's one of those once-in-a-lifetime, generational players that come to the NBL, like a Bryce and a Kendric Davis," Vasiljevic said.

"I don't think he gets the recognition because he's over in New Zealand. If he was playing on any other team, all of the media would be loving him.

"But just because he's across the Tasman, he doesn't get that recognition. He nearly had a triple-double tonight, and if he's not proving a point, then I don't know what is.

"To top it off, we're stacking wins, which matters the most."