Reigning NBL champions the Adelaide 36ers held off a surging Brisbane Bullets to post a 115-108 victory at the Clipsal Powerhouse on Friday night.

The difference between the two teams in the first half was so marked that the Sixers led 70-35 at the main break and had five players scoring double figures to the Bullets' none.

But Brisbane turned it around in the second half thanks to some stifling defence and slick ball movement as Damien Ryan lit up from the three-point line.

Charles Thomas and Martin Cattalini led the way for the 36ers with 22 points each while Brett Maher chimed in with 20.

Ryan starred for the Bullets with a game-high 27 points, which included 5-from-9 three pointers, while Randy Rutherford (23 points) and Kevin Freeman (16 points, 9 rebounds) were solid.

The embarrassed Bullets opened the third quarter with an 18-2 run, taking the quarter 31-19.

Leading 98-73 in the fourth, Cattalini landed a two-handed dunk over Bullets big-man Wade Helliwell and then gave the sprawling centre a gobful.

The parochial crowd erupted and the game appeared to be over.

Brisbane coach Joey Wright cleared his bench one minute later but with Ryan firing three-pointers down the stretch, the Bullets came close to a surprise win.

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