36ers to play in front of fifth straight sellout

Adelaide 36ers will tonight play in front of a fifth consecutive sellout crowd when the club battles Sydney Kings from 7pm at the Entertainment Centre.

It’s the sixth sell out of the NBL23 season and tonight’s Member Appreciation game could be the sixth time the home crowd attendance record is broken.

Head coach CJ Bruton said the fans at home have been fantastic all season and the side want to put on a show against the Kings.

“Putting a group together like this for our fans to get out of lockdown and support us the way that they have has been amazing,” Bruton said.

“To reward them with another win will be awesome.”

Friday night’s game will be the first time Ian Clark faces his former Kings teammates, but the 190cm combo guard is treating the game like every other game.

“It’s another game, we want to go in with the same mindset and we want to build off of the Cairns win,” Clark said.

“Obviously it’s going to be fun, they are the number one seed, it’s our last home game so I’m looking forward to going home and seeing our fans sell out, it’s going to be a big game, a fun game.

“For me, it’s going to be good to see those guys but at the same time, they know how I am, they know I love to compete, it’s going to be fun to compete against them, whoever is out on the floor and we are just trying to come away with a win.”

Clark said the battle against Kings shoot guard Dejan Vasiljevic will be fun.

“Me and DJ, we are close but at the same time I know what he is going to bring, he is going to come and compete as well,” Clark said.

“So being able to match the energy of not only him, but X (Cooks) and Chase (Buford) as well I know he is going to be talking on the sideline as well.

“In between those lines, it’s business and we are trying to get a win.”

ADELAIDE 36ERS vs SYDNEY KINGS
Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Friday 7pm
LIKELY STARTERS
36ers: McCarron, Dech, Cleveland, Franks, Sotto.
Kings: Walton Jnr, Vasiljevic, Simon, Cooks, Soares.
LAST TIME
SYDNEY KINGS 97 (Soares 18, Walton Jnr 16, Cooks 15) def ADELAIDE 36ERS 78 (Johnson 21, Franks 16, Sotto 13) at Qudos Bank Arena.
BOX SCORE