36ers ready to rebound against Hawks

Adelaide 36ers will be looking to get back into the winners' circle when they host Illawarra Hawks at the Entertainment Centre on Friday night.

The 36ers, who currently sit in seventh place with a 10-9 record, face a Hawks side who have won just two games in NBL23 but guard Sunday Dech says Friday night's match is a "must win".

“For us, every game is a must win right now, we have got a one game at a time mentality,” Dech said.

“We were on a roll and we want to get back to that winning feeling and get rolling again.

“We got nine games left, and we want to win them all.”

Adelaide have been planning all week after last Saturday night's 86-83 loss to the Taipans in Cairns on New Year's Eve.

Swingman Antonius Cleveland said the 36ers are moving forward towards continuing a four-game winning streak at home.

"We want to take care of home court, we want to keep protecting this place and make it hard to play here and giving our fans a good outing so they keep supporting us,” Cleveland said.

“These two games this weekend are going to be huge.

“We are ready to get out there and get a W, get that taste out of our mouth from last game.

“It’s one day at a time but we are ready to get out there and play again.”

Illawarra will be without import point guard Peyton Siva, who is set to miss the remainder of the NBL23 season with a shoulder injury.

But despite their injury concerns and results on the court this season, the Hawks are a side that can be dangerous and Cleveland, who played for Illawarra in NBL22, knows too well of the potential.

“Every game is important, it’s so close, the race is so tight,” Cleveland said.

“You want to take care of business and not have any slip ups."

ADELAIDE 36ERS vs ILLAWARRA HAWKS 
Adelaide Entertainment Convention Centre, 7pm Friday
LIKELY STARTERS
36ers: McCarron, Dech, Cleveland, Franks, Sotto
Hawks: Harvey, Hickey, Frazier, Deng, Froling
LAST TIME
ADELAIDE 36ERS 96 (Johnson 28, Franks 25, Drmic 16) def ILLAWARRA HAWKS 80 (Harvey 25, Swaka Lo Buluk 12, Siva 11) at WIN Entertainment Centre.