Match Preview: New import set to suit up to tackle Taipans

The Adelaide 36ers are set to unveil a new signing as they look to continue a strong recent run of form against the Cairns Taipans on Sunday.

The Sixers have been victorious in each of the last four matches between the sides and five of the last six, and the Taipans will go into the game undermanned through injury.

Four of the last five meetings have been in Cairns including two visits in 16 days just last month, but the sides will face off at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre for the first time since October last year.

On Friday night the Taipans went down at home against South East Melbourne and they’ll have a slightly shorter turnaround than the Sixers who beat the JackJumpers in Tasmania on Thursday night.

Zylan Cheatham starred in Hobart with a season-best 27 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and two blocks with 3/4 three-point shooting and 9/12 overall, and he will be hoping to build on his form back home on Sunday.

Sixers fans could get their first look at new signing Troy Brown Jnr who landed in Adelaide on Friday after more than 350 games in the NBA.

36ers coach Mike Wells says the 6’7” wing was brought in to make the current line-up better.

“Obviously his size, his experience, both sides of the ball and then, you know, I've talked about trying to create a roster that has been high character, high IQ,” Wells said.

“Those are kind of the things that we start with. He's both of those things.

“I spoke to a lot of my NBA contacts trying to do our background and had a lot of people that really said a lot of really good things about him.

“Troy will bring different types of things to our group, but he'll be somebody that can also complement the whole group.”

But Wells wasn’t giving much away on Friday about whether his new signing would get many minutes.

“I have no idea,” he smiled, noting the 26-year-old had just arrived after four flights in two days.

“I think it's different for guards to wings and bigs. It's all under an individual basis, as in how we go and where we're at.

“I have no idea at this point. He literally just got off the plane so we'll see.”

And while Adelaide has welcomed a new face, Cairns has been missing some more familiar faces in recent times with injury robbing the Taipans of Kyle Adnam (knee), Sam Waardenburg (ankle), Kody Stattmann (hamstring), Alex Higgins-Titsha (hand), Reyne Smith (foot).

Mojave King and Lachlan Barker have come into the starting five in the last two games with King in particular impressing.

King was a teammate of new Sixer Brown in Puerto Rico earlier this year.

Sunday’s game at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre is part of Kids Takeover Round for the Sixers with Kids MCs, a Kids Talent Show and Baby Races all part of the entertainment.

The game gets underway at 4:00pm ACDT with limited tickets still available.

ADELAIDE 36ERS vs CAIRNS TAIPANS
Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Sunday 16 November, 4:00pm ACDT
Live on ESPN via Kayo Sports or Disney+ and on 10 Drama

OVERALL
Played 90, Adelaide 50, Cairns 40

At Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Played 9, Adelaide 7, Cairns 2

LAST FIVE MATCHES
Oct 18, 2025 – 36ers 91 def Taipans 86 at Cairns Convention Centre
Oct 2, 2025 – 36ers 110 def Taipans 79 at Cairns Convention Centre 
Jan 19, 2025 – 36ers 99 def Taipans 75 at Cairns Convention Centre
Oct 25, 2024 – 36ers 99 def Taipans 93 at AEC
Sept 28, 2024 – Taipans 101 def 36ers 97 at Cairns Convention Centre