Match Preview: History and $300k on the line in Ignite Cup Final

The Adelaide 36ers have a chance to create history and come home from the Gold Coast with a bag full of prizemoney, if they can beat New Zealand on Sunday and win the inaugural Ignite Cup.

It is the first time the in-season tournament has been held with each NBL side playing four games on Wednesday nights throughout the season and points claimed by outscoring opponents each quarter as well as for wins.

The Sixers beat Illawarra, Cairns and Brisbane on the way to the final, also picking up points in an overtime loss to Sydney, winning 12 quarters to finish top of the Ignite Cup ladder on 21 points.

The Breakers finished with 20 points after winning 11 quarters with three wins from four games.

The two teams will play for the record $300,000 grand prize at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre on Sunday, with the runners-up receiving $100,000.

There’ll be extra incentive for the teams too, with 60 per-cent of the prize purse going directly to the players, and 40 per-cent to their respective clubs.

The sides have never met at the venue, though the Sixers have played nine times there before for just two wins. The Adelaide side has not played at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre since suffering a 19-point loss to the former Gold Coast Blaze side in December 2011.

And while the venue may be unfamiliar, the sides should be very familiar with each other, having played just eight days prior in Adelaide.

On that occasion on Valentines Day, the Breakers got the jump out to an 18-point lead before a Bryce Cotton masterclass saw him drain 13 last-quarter points on his way to 42 for the game to help the Sixers fight back to win by three.

The Breakers were missing next star Karim Lopez and MVP candidate Sam Mennenga through injury for that game but both returned to the court in Thursday night’s comfortable win over Cairns and starred.

The Sixers go into the game having secured a top-two spot heading into the NBL post-season despite falling narrowly in Perth to the Wildcats on Friday night in the final game of the regular season.

Five-time NBL MVP Bryce Cotton missed that game with back soreness, and the Sixers are optimistic he will be able to play on Sunday. 

They have had a lengthy trip cross country to get to the Gold Coast from the west, while the Breakers had an extra day of rest and have flown in from Auckland.

Having been eliminated from finals contention with that earlier loss to Adelaide, New Zealand can leave it all on the court in the pursuit of Ignite Cup glory.

Sixers Head Coach Mike Wells says the game presents a unique opportunity to make history as the first club to win the Ignite Cup, and his side was taking that opportunity very seriously.

“I think it's important to try to win and put Adelaide 36ers on the first year that we did the Ignite Cup,” he explained.

“I think it's a great thing.

“We played for this situation from the very first game on a Wednesday that was an Ignite Cup game.

“We talked about winning quarters, and we made it a focus because not everybody has an opportunity in their contract to get a playoff bonus. In the NBA, you get playoff bonuses, and you get playoff shares, and you do all that stuff, and, to me, this is an opportunity for these guys to get a little extra money.”

But he said he was wary of a Breakers side that has nothing to lose.

“It's the greatest consolation prize for New Zealand in the history of professional sports,” he added.

“They don't make the playoffs, yet they get a payout.

“It's a really unique situation for us. We’ve got two games in what, about 40 hours on different coasts (but) we're excited to be in this situation to compete with this.

“I’ve got a ton of respect for New Zealand. It's been some really, really tough battles for them (this season). They have some great players.

“It's an honour to be in the first game, in the Ignite Cup (final), and we're going to go over there and try to compete and try to win some cash for these guys, and have a little playoff money before the playoffs start.”

Sunday’s game gets underway at 4:00pm ACDT / 3:30pm AEST.

If you can’t be at the venue, you can watch it live on ESPN via Kayo or Disney+ or on Channel 10.

ADELAIDE 36ERS v NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS
Gold Coast Convention Centre, Sunday 22 February, 4:00pm ACDT / 3:30pm AEST
Live on ESPN via Kayo Sports or Disney+ or Channel 10

OVERALL
Played 84, Adelaide 40, New Zealand 44

At Gold Coast Convention Centre
Played 0, Adelaide 0, New Zealand 0

LAST FIVE MATCHES
February 14, 2026 – 36ers 92 def Breakers 89 at AEC
Jan 23, 2026 – 36ers 112 def Breakers 110 at Spark Arena, Auckland
Nov 6, 2025 – 36ers 83 def Breakers 79 at Wolfbrook Arena, Christchurch
Jan 26, 2025 – 36ers 94 def Breakers 78 at AEC
Dec 14, 2024 – 36ers 111 def Breakers 94 at AEC