Match Preview: Sixers’ bounce back plans in White’s 150th

The Adelaide 36ers will be hoping to jump back on the winners list and add to Tasmania’s four-game losing run when the sides meet in Hobart on Thursday night.

The sides last met in Adelaide back in Round 4 with the Sixers winning a physical contest by nine points and Bryce Cotton and Isaac Humphries teaming up for 53 points between them.

The Sixers head to Hobart for their fourth game in 11 days and off the back of a narrow defeat at the hands of Perth on Sunday.

Thursday night’s game will be the 150^th in the NBL for Sixers guard Isaac White, who spent NBL23 with the JackJumpers and played 28 games in their colours.

“I speak very highly of Tasmania,” White said before traveling to the island state.

“They kind of gave me a second chance at the NBL. I was out of the league at the time and they threw me a bit of a lifeline with an injury replacement and a couple of years on I’m still kicking so there’s no bad blood towards them.

“(MyState Bank Arena) is always such a fun arena to play at… and their fans do an amazing job of creating an atmosphere.”

White said he was excited for the challenge of a JackJumpers outfit that had been down on form in recent weeks but was always up for the fight.

“Yeah, they’ve had a bit of a slide recently with games but they’ve got injuries and all sorts of problems of their own going on there,” he said.

“But, they’re going to have a few guys returning to their line-up so they’ll be as dangerous as ever and we’ve got to bounce back.”

The JackJumpers are coming off four straight losses and will be without two of their most experienced players in captain Will Magnay and former Sixer Anthony Drmic.

The JackJumpers announced on Wednesday their captain, who is averaging 9.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks will miss with a bruised right knee while Drmic could sit out the rest of the season with a back injury that has kept him out for six games already.

Young big Archie Woodhill will return on Thursday night to provide back-up to Josh Bannan and Majok Deng as the Tasmanians look to arrest their slide and improve their 5-7 win-loss record.

MyState Bank Arena has not been a happy hunting ground for the 36ers with just one win from six visits, but Mike Wells’ side has been travelling well this season with three wins from four away games so far.

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

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS vs ADELAIDE 36ERS
MyState Bank Arena, Thursday 13 November, 7:00pm ACDT
Live on ESPN via Kayo Sports or Disney+

OVERALL
Played 13, Adelaide 4, Tasmania 9

At MyState Bank Arena
Played 6, Adelaide 1, Tasmania 5

LAST FIVE MATCHES
Oct 9, 2025 – 36ers 98 def JackJumpers 89 at AEC
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

KEY STATS
·       Adelaide has lost each of its last 10 games after trailing at quarter-time.

·       Adelaide has won three of its last four away games.

·       Tasmania has won each of its last five home games against Adelaide.

·       Tasmania has lost each of its last four games.

·       Heading into Round 9, Adelaide ranks 1st in the league for free throw percentage this season (78.0%).

·       Only 18.5% of Adelaide's scoring this season has come from the bench - lowest mark in the league heading into Round 9.

·       Dejan Vasiljevic has made the most free-throws without a miss (18) of any player in the league this season.

·       Heading into Round 9, Zylan Cheatham ranks T1st amongst qualified players for rebounds per game (10.5) this season.

·       Heading into Round 9, Bryce Cotton ranks 1st amongst qualified players for steals per game (2.4) this season.

·       Heading into Round 9, Bryce Cotton ranks 1st amongst qualified players for points per game (27.6) this season.

·       Heading into Round 9, Bryce Cotton ranks 2nd amongst qualified players for assists per game (6.4) this season.