Melbourne have made it a hat-trick of wins to start the NBL season with a comfortable 101-85 victory over the 36ers at the Distinctive Homes Dome in Adelaide.

The Tigers set up the win with a first term display of offensive power and class to confirm their status as one of the favourites for the NBL title.

After a quiet start, new recruit David Barlow top-scored for the Tigers with 19 points, while Chris Anstey (17) and Dave Thomas (14) also turned on the style.

Import Adam Ballinger again showed he is a quality signing for the 36ers with 19 points with Brad Davidson and Brett Maher finishing with 13 apiece.

In a frenetic opening term the Tigers withstood an early 36ers barrage to set up a comfortable 31-16 lead at the first break with Anstey and Thomas providing some clinical finishing for the visitors.

A Davidson three-pointer and a series of baskets from David Cooper dragged the 36ers back to within seven points midway through the second period, but the home side's defence continued to struggle with the offensive power of Anstey, Thomas and Barlow and at halftime the visitors led 58-43.

After the break Davidson, Ballinger and Axel Dench each slotted three-pointers for the Sixers, only for the Tigers to maintain their edge in the shootout and take a decisive 80-66 lead into the final stanza.

In the last quarter the 36ers appeared to accept their fate with Barlow sinking a couple of early baskets as many of the home fans opted for an early exit.

Tigers coach Alan Westover said the first term performance was decisive.

"We got that big lead early but you never feel safe in this building with Adelaide," he said.

"But there was still so much time to play and the way they shoot the ball we knew they would make some runs at us.

"I think we weathered the storm a few times.

"They are a very good team and I think we caught them at a good time of the year."

Westover believed the Tigers' inside play was the key.

Thirty Sixers coach Phil Smyth said his side never recovered from a poor start.

"We reeled them in a couple of times and we looked like we were going to get back in the game," he said.

"They are a hardened group, they have been together the core of that group for four or five seasons so at different times they were able to execute a little bit better than us and at times we were disjointed."

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