The Adelaide 36ers opened up their NBL campaign in style with a 108-101 win over the Wollongong Hawks at the Distinctive Homes Dome in Adelaide.

In an entertaining clash the 36ers broke the game open with a stunning third term to snuff out any hopes of a Hawks win.

Former Hawk Adam Ballinger was brilliant for the 36ers with a 22 point haul, while fellow debutant Brad Davidson (22) and the ever reliable Brett Maher (21) were also in fine form.

Kavossy Franklin top scored for the Hawks with 19 points, with Matt Campbell (16) and Lindsay Tait and Cameron Rigby (both 14) also contributing solid efforts.

After a cagey opening few minutes the match settled into a high quality shootout with the 36ers taking a 28-25 lead into the first break.

During the second term the long range shooting of Brad Davidson and Maher were a constant threat, while Campbell, Rigby and Tragardh had the answers for the Hawks to keep the visitors in the contest with a halftime scoreline of 59-54.

Lanard Copeland erupted after the break with a series of three pointers to give the 36ers a decisive 16-point lead midway through the term.

Although Kavossy Franklin replied with a brace of three-pointers for the Hawks, the 36ers took an 89-78 advantage into the final stanza.

Franklin led a spirited Hawks fightback in the final term, but with Ballinger and Brad Davidson in great form for the 36ers the visitors never looked like snatching the lead.

Adelaide coach Phil Smyth said he felt relieved to have won the opening game.

"We wanted to get off to a good start so we probably put a bit of pressure on ourselves that we didn't need to," Smyth said.

"I thought for a first game everybody played really well."

Smyth said he was happy with the performance of the club's new recruits Davidson, Ballinger and Mike Chappell.

"I think Brad's game was terrific, I think Adam's game was great and Mike for having not trained for six weeks was really solid for us," he said.

"So all those guys who have come in were able to contribute."

Hawks coach Eric Cooks said he was disappointed with his side's failure to focus on certain aspects of their game.

"Some of the areas that we focused on we didn't handle very well," Cooks said.

"I thought rebounding was always going to be an issue.

"We are a smaller team and we've really got to work hard, and I felt we gave them some second shots.

"But I thought we did fight through and I mean our motto is never say die and I thought we did live by that.

"I felt if a few calls went our way too it would have helped."

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