• ‍Game 1: 5 things were learned from the 44-point blowout‍
• Adelaide 36ers coach Mike Wells: Adjustments? 'I don't have any'‍
• Bryce Cotton vs Andrew Gaze debate 'becoming Jordan v LeBron'

14,908 days before the Adelaide 36ers suffered the biggest loss in NBL Grand Final history, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson’s Los Angeles Lakers fell victim to Larry Bird’s Boston Celtics in what was to become known as the Memorial Day Massacre.

Both were Game 1 blow-outs: the Kings destroyed the 36ers by 42 on March 21, 2026, and the Celtics dismantled the Lakers by 34.

No player in the NBL26 Grand Final Series was even born in ‘85, but the scenario and the response required are the same.

Game 2 is on Friday, March 27, 2026, at 7.30pm.

“There's no panic in me,” 36ers head coach Wells said.

“We've got to go back, regenerate our group, get a little more organised. We've played these guys pretty well through the regular season — we had a couple of tough endings and losses.

“We've got to bank on some of the positive things we've done. We’ve got to find some of the rhythm from the last series and carry some things over.

“But we lost the game — we've got to go home and protect home court. That's what the playoffs are.

“It's a playoff series, not one game. Our goal is to go home and take care of our home court.

“They held home court in Game 1 — we’ve got to hold home court in Game 2. We know what the atmosphere is going to be like at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. They were unbelievable in the last series. We'll need all of that energy plus.

“We just need to win a home game, and then it's 1–1. That's what you have to do.”

At 38 on May 27, 1985, six-time MVP Abdul-Jabbar was lambasted after Game 1 against the Celtics, when he was called old and looked it, as Boston’s centre Robert Parish ran him off the floor.

“I was embarrassed,” Abdul-Jabbar admitted.

Lakers Hall of Fame coach Pat Riley famously pulled Abdul-Jabbar apart in the film session before Game 2.

“Kareem was bad, knew he was bad, said he was bad,” said Riley.

“I told him, frankly, he had not played hard enough. He said the same thing to me, said it to the other players. He made a contract with us that it would never happen again, ever.

“That game was a blessing in disguise. After that, Kareem had this look, this air about him. His commitment thereafter was astounding.”

Three days later, Abdul-Jabbar poured in 30 points, ripped down 17 boards as the Lakers tied the series 109-102, split on the road and went on to win the series in six on Boston’s home court.

It was the first time the Lakers had beaten the Celtics in the Garden in nine trips to the NBA Finals.

But only two teams in NBL history have recovered from a Game 1 destruction to win the championship: Tasmania JackJumpers in NBL24 and South-East Melbourne Magic in NBL92.

But this feels different. The Kings were thoroughly dominant while the JackJumpers and Magic were blown out; both clubs were better match-ups against Melbourne United and the Melbourne Tigers.

Wells is right, though.

“It's a playoff series — they got one game,” he said.

“They held home court. We've got to go home, try to figure it out in a week, and take care of our home court on Friday night.”

Related : 25-1: Greatest power forwards in NBA history │ 20-to-1: The greatest point guards in NBA history │ Ranked: Top 30 NBA Players of All-Time │ Ranked: The 19 smoothest jumpers in NBA history │ Why the 1987 All-Star Game is the greatest of all

NBL teams that lost Game 1 blow-outs — and still won the title

🏆 Tasmania JackJumpers — NBL24 Champions

Game 1: Lost to Melbourne United 81–104 (–23)Series result: Won championship 3–2

Full series

• Game 1 — Melbourne United 104 def. Tasmania 81
• Game 2 — Tasmania 82 def. Melbourne United 77
• Game 3 — Tasmania 93 def. Melbourne United 91
• Game 4 — Melbourne United 88 def. Tasmania 86
• Game 5 — Tasmania 83 def. Melbourne United 81

One of the greatest Grand Final fightbacks as JackJumpers star Jack McVeigh hit one of the biggest shots in the history of the NBL championship series.

🏆 S.E. Melbourne Magic — NBL92 Champions

Game 1: Lost to Melbourne Tigers 98–116 (–18)Series result: Won championship 2–1

Full series

• Game 1 — Melbourne Tigers 116 def. Magic 98
• Game 2 — Magic 115 def. Melbourne Tigers 93
• Game 3 — Magic 95 def. Melbourne Tigers 88

Biggest Game 1 blow-outs in NBL Grand Final history

2026 — Sydney Kings (+44)

Game 1: Sydney Kings 112 def. Adelaide 36ers 68

Game 2: TBC

‍Game 3: TBC

‍Game 4: TBC

‍Game 5: TBC

Series winner: TBC

1997 — Melbourne Tigers (+37)

Game 1: Melbourne Tigers 111 def. S.E. Melbourne Magic 74Game 2: S.E. Melbourne Magic 84 def. Melbourne Tigers 78Game 3: Melbourne Tigers 93 def. S.E. Melbourne Magic 83

Series winner: Melbourne Tigers (2–1)

2024 — Melbourne United (+23)

Game 1: Melbourne United 104 def. Tasmania JackJumpers 81Game 2: Tasmania JackJumpers 82 def. Melbourne United 77Game 3: Tasmania JackJumpers 93 def. Melbourne United 91Game 4: Melbourne United 88 def. Tasmania JackJumpers 86Game 5: Tasmania JackJumpers 83 def. Melbourne United 81

Series winner: Tasmania JackJumpers (3–2)

1992 — Melbourne Tigers (+18)

Game 1: Melbourne Tigers 116 def. S.E. Melbourne Magic 98Game 2: S.E. Melbourne Magic 115 def. Melbourne Tigers 93Game 3: S.E. Melbourne Magic 95 def. Melbourne Tigers 88

Series winner: S.E. Melbourne Magic (2–1)

2022 — Sydney Kings (+17)

Game 1: Sydney Kings 95 def. Tasmania JackJumpers 78Game 2: Sydney Kings 90 def. Tasmania JackJumpers 86Game 3: Sydney Kings 97 def. Tasmania JackJumpers 88

Series winner: Sydney Kings (3–0)

2018 — Melbourne United (+11)

Game 1: Melbourne United 107 def. Adelaide 36ers 96Game 2: Adelaide 36ers 110 def. Melbourne United 95Game 3: Melbourne United 101 def. Adelaide 36ers 98Game 4: Adelaide 36ers 90 def. Melbourne United 81Game 5: Melbourne United 100 def. Adelaide 36ers 82

Series winner: Melbourne United (3–2)

2010 — Perth Wildcats (+11)

Game 1: Perth Wildcats 75 def. Wollongong Hawks 64Game 2: Wollongong Hawks 75 def. Perth Wildcats 63Game 3: Perth Wildcats 96 def. Wollongong Hawks 72

Series winner: Perth Wildcats (2–1)

The biggest NBA Finals blow-outs ever

Michael Jordan’s Bulls crush the Jazz by 42 (1998)

Chicago’s 96–54 demolition in Game 3 remains the largest winning margin in NBA Finals history. Utah shot just 30% and committed 26 turnovers in a nightmare performance.

But the Jazz still regrouped — pushing the series deep and forcing Chicago to earn the championship the hard way.

Kevin Garnett’s Celtics overwhelm Lakers by 39 (2008)

Boston’s 131–92 close-out win sealed a famous title but also showed how Finals momentum can swing violently from game to game.

Even elite teams featuring superstars like Kobe Bryant can be blown off the floor.

Luka Doncic keeps Mavericks alive with 38-point win (2024)

Facing elimination and down 3–0, Dallas produced the biggest Finals victory ever by a team on the brink, crushing Boston 122–84.

The Mavericks even built a 45-point lead — the largest in a Finals game in half a century.

Spurs humiliate Heat by 36 (2013)

San Antonio’s Game 3 destruction looked like it might break Miami’s championship defence.

Instead, LeBron James and the Heat regrouped immediately, won Game 4 and ultimately captured the title.

Elvin Hayes leads the Bullets' rout by 35 (1978)

Washington’s dominant Game 6 victory showcased how Finals can turn into physical, emotional blow-outs — and still require resilience to finish the job.

Related : 25-1: Greatest power forwards in NBA history │ 20-to-1: The greatest point guards in NBA history │ Ranked: Top 30 NBA Players of All-Time │ Ranked: The 19 smoothest jumpers in NBA history │ Why the 1987 All-Star Game is the greatest of all