Match Preview: Sixers aiming to Ignite against Hawks

The Adelaide 36ers are chasing a third straight NBL win and their first Ignite Cup points against Illawarra on Wednesday night.

The Sixers boast an impressive record against the Hawks, particularly at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre where they have won eight of their 11 meetings.

The Sixers have recorded six straight victories over Illawarra including the most recent win on November 2 at the same venue, and the 21-point pre-season Blitz victory in August.

The last time the Hawks beat the Sixers was back in December 2023 at WIN Entertainment Centre.

Wednesday night’s game will be the 150^th in the NBL for co-captain DJ Vasiljevic.

He is looking forward to the Sixers playing their first game in the Ignite Cup – the NBL’s new in-season tournament.

Only Adelaide and South East Melbourne are yet to play in the cup so far and with the dual motivation of NBL competition points as well as Ignite Cup points on offer, Vasiljevic says he is a fan of the mid-week cup games.

“I'm a fan of them because there's money at stake for the players,” he said of the $400,000 in prize money on offer for the Ignite Cup.

“More games for teams, which is a big thing for us. More games means less practice.

“But no, it's a good initiative. I think they're trying to do what the NBA is trying to do, and I think it's a thing to stay.

“Every quarter matters now. Obviously, we start off really good and then we don't really finish off in the fourth quarter, so I think we'll touch up on that at practice and then hopefully we can finish every quarter strong, get the win, get all the points.”

The Hawks had a slow start to their NBL title defence with injuries to key personnel not helping their cause.

But with Davo Hickey back fit and firing and import JaVale McGee a constant threat, Vasiljevic said the Sixers were aware of their “dangerous” opponents.

Last time the sides met, earlier this month, Hickey had 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists while McGee finished with 17, 11 and six.

The Sixers’ co-captain said limiting McGee’s impact would go a long way to getting the win on Wednesday night.

“He's obviously pretty good inside the curve,” Vasiljevic said.

(We’ll just) try to limit his touches, his movement.

“He's good, he's an NBA type big - he's won three championships in the NBA - so there'll be a lot of us trying to double him and try to limit his touches.”

The Hawks committed 26 turnovers against the Kings on Sunday, equalling their most ever at the WIN Entertainment Centre, and setting a new record for a 40-minute home game. Coach Jason Tatum will want them to tidy up that part of their game.

At 4–7 and with games in hand on several teams above them, the Hawks have a defining week starting with the game against Adelaide before a Grand Final rematch on Friday night back in Illawarra against ladder-leaders Melbourne United.

Wednesday’s game gets underway at 7:00pm ACDT.

ADELAIDE 36ERS v ILLAWARRA HAWKS
Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Wednesday 19 November, 7:00pm ACDT
Live on ESPN via Kayo Sports or Disney+

OVERALL
Played 139, Adelaide 82, Illawarra 57

At Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Played 11, Adelaide 8, Illawarra 3

LAST FIVE MATCHES
Nov 2, 2025 – 36ers 90 def Hawks 88 at AEC
*Aug 27, 2025 – 36ers 104 def Hawks 83 at AIS Arena, Canberra (Blitz)
Jan 13, 2025 – 36ers 91 def Hawks 88 at AEC
Nov 10, 2024 – 36ers 93 def Hawks 79 at AEC
Oct 5, 2024 – 36ers 102 def Hawks 100 at WIN Entertainment Centre
Jan 20, 2024 – 36ers 96 def Hawks 89 at WIN Entertainment Centre

KEY STATS

• In each of Adelaide's last eight games, the team trailing at three-quarter-time has won the fourth quarter.
• Illawarra has lost each of its last six games at Adelaide Entertainment Centre.
• Illawarra has lost each of its last six games when losing the rebound count.
• Adelaide holds a 7-0 record when Bryce Cotton scores 24+ points this season.
• Adelaide has won nine of its last 10 games against Illawarra.
• Dejan Vasiljevic has made each of his last 27 free-throw attempts.
• Adelaide ranks 1st in the league for free throw percentage this season (77.5%).
• Only 20.0% of Adelaide's scoring this season has come from the bench - lowest mark in the league.
• Isaac Humphries is one of only two qualified players in the league averaging at least 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks per game this season.