Match Preview: Sixers expecting “different beast” Bullets

The Adelaide 36ers will be looking for a fifth straight win on Friday night as they return to the court following the FIBA break to take on the Brisbane Bullets.

The last time the sides met in September it was the Sixers’ first game of the Hungry Jack’s NBL26 season, and they ended a run of four straight losses to the Bullets.

In fact, the Bullets had won six of the previous seven games between the sides.

Things are very different now with the Sixers in second place on the ladder with an 11-3 record and four straight wins, and the Bullets eighth with five wins from their 15 games.

They’ll arrive in Adelaide off the back of three straight losses but had the FIBA break to reset.

The Sixers used the FIBA break to help import Troy Brown Jnr get to know the team's game plan. He has featured in three games since arriving in the country but had limited time between games to train with the group.

The Bullets have never really got going with injuries to key personnel limiting their ability to build any consistency.

But with captain Mitch Norton, rookie big man Jacob Holt and Tohi Smith-Milner now back on the court and defender Sam McDaniel this week confirmed to return against the Sixers, the Bullets are nearing full strength.

Casey Prather was a stand-out before his season-ending knee injury, but the return of import Javon Freeman-Liberty will provide a welcome boost to Stu Lash’s side.

The Bullets have also welcomed in NBA experienced forward Terry Taylor as a replacement for fellow import Jaylen Adams who parted ways with the club in recent weeks.

Someone who is very aware of the threat the Bullets pose is Sixers assistant coach Luke Cann.

He was part of the coaching staff in Brisbane over the last two seasons before making the move south to Adelaide and has been keeping a close eye on his former side.

“There is a lot of unknown,” Cann said of the Bullets.

“They're probably the team that is the most unknown right now, you know having Freeman-Liberty come back and they've added another import in Terry Taylor and Sam McDaniel is back on the roster now, who you know is a top five perennial all defensive player of the year, so they're a different beast right now.

“They're a very good team. They have one of the best bigs in the league in Tyrell Harrison and they have a whole lot of guys that work hard and play their roles really well.

“Their record probably doesn't indicate the amount of talent that's on their roster and we understand that, and I think the whole league understands that.

“I don't think in any world anyone's going to underestimate them.”

Cann said he expected the Bullets, and other sides, would now be hunting the Sixers and it would be important to defend the Adelaide Entertainment Centre home court.

“You’ve got to be ready for them to come in swinging,” he said. “We expect that but in the same breath, we also are the Adelaide 36ers and we also demand respect as well, and you know we understand that people are coming to try and beat us especially at home.

“We understand the challenge that's in front of us and we don't shy away from that.

“We have all season, and you know we feel like there's been a couple games that we've let slip but each game presents different challenges and this one's no different.

“I think for us it’s obviously using the FIBA break to tighten up a few things, getting Troy Brown junior acclimated to the group is probably number one priority and then we’ve just been able to keep working on ourselves to get better as a unit.”

The game is the first of two in two days for the Sixers, who will then head to Perth to face the Wildcats on Sunday.

ADELAIDE 36ERS vs BRISBANE BULLETS
Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Friday 5 December, 7:00pm ACDT
Live on ESPN via Kayo Sports or Disney+

OVERALL
Played 102, Adelaide 52, Brisbane 50

At Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Played 11, Adelaide 6, Brisbane 5

LAST FIVE MATCHES
Sept 21, 2025 – 36ers 87 def Bullets 80
Jan 31, 2025 – Bullets 92 def 36ers 89 at AEC
Dec 24, 2024 – Bullets 111 def 36ers 90 at AEC
Dec 6, 2024 – Bullets 102 def 36ers 83 at Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Feb 9, 2024 – Bullets 102 def 36ers 84 at Nissan Arena, Brisbane

KEY STATS

·       Adelaide has won each of its last four games.

·       Bryce Cotton has scored 36+ points in each of his last two appearances against Brisbane.

·       Brisbane has lost four of its last five games.

·       Heading into Round 11, Brisbane ranks 1st in the league for field goal percentage this season (47.4%).

·       Heading into Round 11, Adelaide ranks 1st in the league for opponent steals per game this season (4.3).

·       Only 21.0% of Adelaide's scoring this season has come from the bench - the lowest mark in the league heading into Round 11.

·       Heading into Round 11, Adelaide ranks 2nd in the league for assists per game this season (20.0).

·       Heading into Round 11, Adelaide ranks 2nd in the league for offensive rating this season (118.9).