Basketball On The Internet.

UNFASHIONABLE Adelaide is once again on top of the WNBL table after turning back deficits of 14 and 15 points to stun championship favourite Perth 88-86 in a high-class thriller today at Lights Community Centre, Tokyo Olympic duo Steph Talbot and Alanna Smith magnificent.

Talbot, the reigning league MVP, looked every centimetre the champion she is as she compiled a stats line of 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including 3-of-3 threes, plus 10 rebounds, nine assists and two steals.

Smith, the somewhat overlooked Olympian who also played a key role with Talbot in securing FIBA World Cup Silver for Australia in 2018, again was unstoppable for 25 points at 63 per cent, with 2-of-3 threes, 11 rebounds, seven assists, a steal and three blocks.

Fouled with 2.6 seconds remaining and scores tied at 86-86, she calmly slotted both free throws to give Lightning the lead for keeps, the Lynx returning from a timeout to run a witless play which resulted only in a turnover, preserving another surprise Adelaide victory.

Lightning beat another hot championship favourite, Melbourne Boomers, at their previous outing while for the star-stacked Lynx, today was their first on-court hit-out of the season.

It sure didn't look like it as they burst from the blocks, turning a 2-2 start into a 16-2 avalanche, Marina Mabrey prominent with an 11-point period which included 3-of-4 triples.

Adelaide grafted its way steadily back, working tenaciously at the defensive end and ultimately winning the boards 45-36, a significant stat which largely compensated for a dreadful 22 turnovers.

Mabrey had 18 points with 5:35 left in the second quarter and looked headed for some sort of record tally as Perth maintained the initiative and lead, the deficit still reduced to 43-48 by halftime. 

With Sami Whitcomb (13 points, seven assists, three steals) more of a factor, Perth opened the second half punishing Adelaide for two point-blank misses and three turnovers in their first five possessions back from the interval.

Darcee Garbin opened the third quarter with a 3-pointer as the Lynx rolled off a 10-0 start which even a desperate Lightning timeout did little to stymy.

Lauren Scherf kept the lead at 15 with her basket for a 60-45 buffer before Kiana Williams' 3-pointer (above) started a 12-0 Adelaide reaction in which Kylee Shook also had some positive minutes.

Chelsea Brook brought Adelaide to 60-62 with a 3-pointer and Marena Whittle tied the game at 62-62, the first deadlock since 2-2.

For the second time, Adelaide closed the quarter aborting a last shot but giving Perth a chance and again the visitors took full advantage, Garbin's three giving it a 69-64 lead ahead of the buzzer.

Tasting the lead for the first time at 71-70 on Abbey Wehrung's pull-up jumpshot, Adelaide squandered several opportunities to build its buffer.

Eventually Mabrey hit a three - she finished the game with 30 points but at a less-than-sizzling 10-of-24, an extraordinary number of attempts on a team this deep with shooters - and when Perth's lead bulged to 79-73, Lightning looked cooked.

Threes from Brook and Talbot (above) quickly erased that before Smith gave Adelaide the lead at 81-79.

Her 3-pointer then made it 84-79 inside the last two minutes, Adelaide with its biggest lead and on an 11-0 explosion.

Mabrey stroked a monster three on which she additionally was fouled, her bonus free throw pulling Perth to 83-84.

Brook made it 86-83 for Adelaide with a clever piece of deception from the block for a great drive. Whitcomb then missed the three to tie but Jackie Young caught the ricochet, passed it back to Mabrey who sank an NBA-distance triple from the top and it was 86-86.

From Adelaide's timeout, Brook missed her shot for the win but Smith grabbed the offensive rebound and was fouled as she shot it back up. From the stripe, she sealed a most unlikely and certainly famous victory.

Perth no doubt will improve but needs to work out its minutes and shot distribution far better. All five Lynx starters played more than 32 minutes and Mabrey's shot monopoly is unlikely to endear her to teammates any time she has an off night.

WNBL RESULTS

ADELAIDE LIGHTNING 88 (Smith 25, Talbot 19, Brook 14, Shook 12, Williams 11; Smith 11 rebs; Talbot 9 assts) d PERTH LYNX 86 (Mabrey 30, Garbin 15, Whitcomb 13, Scherf 10; Scherf 10 rebs; Whitcomb 7 assts) at The Lighthouse, Lights Community Centre.

UNI of CANBERRA CAPITALS 76 (Griffin 20, Ruef 13, Sykes 12; Griffin, Ruef 9 rebs; Wilson 8 assts) d TOWNSVILLE FIRE 52 (Reid 11, 4 with 6; Sutton 7 rebs; 4 with 2 assts) at The Fire Station, Townsville Entertainment Centre.

NBL YESTERDAY

MELBOURNE UNITED 76 (Lual-Acuil 19, Goulding 14, Agada 12, Hukporti 11; Agada 9 rebs; Dellavedova 4 assts) d TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 72 (Adams 23, Magette 15, McVeigh, Steindl 8; McIntosh 7 rebs; Bairstow, Magette 2 assts) at The Anthill, Mystate Bank Arena. Crowd: 4,685