Match Preview: Sixers aiming to get the jump on Tasmania

The Adelaide 36ers could have their best record in 25 years should they get past a typically tricky Tasmania outfit on Thursday night.

Not since the 2000-01 season have the Sixers been 3-0 to start the season.

The JackJumpers lost their first game of the Hungry Jack’s NBL26 season but have since beaten Perth, Illawarra and Brisbane on the road.

With a fourth straight road trip to Adelaide this week, the Tasmanians will no doubt be travel weary, but it doesn’t mean much to Sixers Head Coach Mike Wells.

“Scott Roth does a really good job,”

“You know, they're organised, they're detailed, they'll be prepared.

“They control the pace of the game and they're a physical opponent, so we'll have our work cut out for us at home.”

The last time the sides faced off was in the NBL Blitz in pre-season with the JackJumpers comin away with a 97-95 win against an undermanned Sixers side. The game came the same day as centre Ben Griscti was seriously injured at training and with a Sixers line-up missing Isaac Humphries and Bryce Cotton.

Humphries and Cotton have been two of the side’s better performers in recent weeks, and import Nick Rakosevic has also been added to the side to add some big man back-up for Humphries.

Wells said he’s not in the business of looking to history, and he didn’t expect the pre-season result to mean much this week.

“That was a really strange day,” he said. “That was the day that the basket fell on Ben (Griscti).

“I watched the game last night and I really didn't remember parts of the game, to be honest with you.

“We had to play small a lot, but we were a little bit off that day because what happened to our teammate to be honest with you.

“It was a good game. We competed. We did some things out there that looked like a pre-season game, and some guys were playing out of position because we didn't play with Bryce (Cotton) and we didn't play with Ice (Humphries) in that one, and then we didn't have Ben.

“It was just sort of different but it was good for me to watch and just sort of see what they were doing, but I don't think it's going to have much bearing on this game tomorrow night.”

The JackJumpers brought in TJ Starks as an Injury Replacement Player last week to cover for the injured David Johnson (calf) and he played his part in the nailbiting win over the Bullets with 13 of his 18 points in the last quarter.

Import Bryce Hamilton continues to impress for Tasmania, averaging 20.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game at 50% from the field, while in the last meeting the Sixers struggled to combat the size and physical presence of Boomers captain Will Magnay.

Thursday night’s game gets underway at 7:00pm ACST / 7:30pm AEST.

ADELAIDE 36ERS vs TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS
Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Thursday 9 October, 7:00pm ACDT
Live on ESPN via Kayo Sports or Disney+

OVERALL
Played 12, Adelaide 3, Tasmania 9

At Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Played 6, Adelaide 2, Tasmania 4

LAST FIVE MATCHES
Jan 10, 2025 – JackJumpers 104 def 36ers 103 at MyState Bank Arena
Nov 30, 2024 – JackJumpers 77 def 36ers 73  at AEC
Oct 20, 2024 – 36ers 77 def JackJumpers 73 at AEC
Feb 4, 2024 – JackJumpers 109 def 36ers 86 at MyState Bank Arena
Dec 2, 2023 – JackJumpers 94 def 36ers 59 at MyState Bank Arena 

KEY STATS

·       Adelaide has won each of its last 11 night games at Adelaide Entertainment Centre after leading at quarter-time.

·      Adelaide has lost each of its last nine games after trailing at quarter-time.

·       Tasmania has won each of its last three night games against Adelaide after trailing at three-quarter-time.

·       Tasmania has won six of its last seven games against Adelaide.

·       Tasmania has won each of its last three away games.

·       Adelaide has won each of its last four games when making 12+ three-pointers.

·       Heading into Round 4, Adelaide ranks 1st in the league for field goal percentage this season (50.7%).

·       Heading into Round 4, Zylan Cheatham is the only qualified player ranked top 10 in the league for both rebounds (12.0) and assists (4.5) per game this season.

·       Bryce Cotton has recorded 15+ points and 5+ assists in five consecutive appearances - longest active streak of any player in the league.

·       Heading into Round 4, Bryce Cotton is the only player in the league to have made 6+ threes in a game this season.

·       Heading into Round 4, Bryce Cotton ranks 1st amongst qualified players for points per game (33.5) this season.

·       Three 36ers players recorded four made three-pointers in their last game - last time an Adelaide team did this was December 22, 2007.

·       Heading into Round 4, Adelaide ranks 1st in the league for point differential per game this season (+19.0).