Match Preview: Sixers head to Sydney with renewed belief

The Adelaide 36ers are off to Sydney to start a run of four straight games on the road with a match-up against the Kings on Sunday.

All eyes will be on how the Sixers fare returning to the scene of last season’s Championship Series decider, particularly off the back of three straight losses.

Externally, the game will be framed, as the Championship Series was, as Adelaide captain Bryce Cotton against former Sixer Kendrick Davis, particularly given the former edged the latter for the NBL26 MVP award.

But for Cotton, his preparation doesn’t involve thinking about Davis nor any other player.

“I look forward to every game. I don't really dwell on individual match-ups,” Cotton explained with his typical calmness during his weekly appearance on SEN SA’s drive program.

“As I’ve said before, we don't even guard each other.

“I don't operate off (trying to play better than anyone else). I feel like I'm good enough to where as long as I'm playing my best basketball, I'm cool with however it pans out.”

The Sixers showed some real desire to fight back from 20 points down to nearly pinch a win over Melbourne United on Wednesday night and will need to replicate their second half form to challenge the Kings, who will be rested after 12 days between games.

Despite being undermanned with injuries to key players, Cotton’s teammates will take a lot of belief with them over east, though the record suggests the home team has won each of the last eight games between Adelaide and Sydney.

“It's one game at a time,” Cotton said of the team’s narrowed focus.

“I think a few seasons back I was a part of a year we started off 2-4, I believe, and we finished second on the ladder.

“I'm not saying that's what's going to happen. I'm not saying it's not, but anything is possible.

“All seasons are long, so there's no reason to hit the panic button, but you've got to go one game at a time.”

It is a quirk of the fixture that the Sixers are playing their seventh game for the season in just 23 days, while the Kings have only played three to this point.

In fact, Trevor Gleeson’s men have played three games since the Kings last took the court.

And while the Sixers have already been to Melbourne, Perth, Wollongong and now Sydney, the Kings haven’t left home and won’t for their first six games. Even then, they play an away game against Illawarra, meaning they don’t have to leave New South Wales.

Sunday’s game gets underway at 2:30pm ACDT / 3:00pm AEDT.

If you can’t be there to watch in person, you can catch it live on ESPN via Kayo or Disney+.

SYDNEY KINGS vs ADELAIDE 36ERS

Afterpay Arena, Sunday 11 October, 2:30pm ACDT / 3:00pm AEDT

Live on ESPN via Kayo Sports or Disney+

OVERALL

Played 121, Adelaide 67, Sydney 54

At Afterpay Arena

Played 24, Adelaide 13, Sydney 11

LAST FIVE MATCHES

Apr 5, 2026 – Kings 113 def 36ers 101 at Qudos Bank Arena

Apr 1, 2026 – 36ers 92 def Kings 91 at AEC

Mar 29, 2026 – Kings 106 def 36ers 93 at Qudos Bank Arena

Mar 27, 2026 – 36ers 91 def Kings 89 at AEC

Mar 21, 2026 – Kings 112 def 36ers 68 at Qudos Bank Arena

KEY STATS

• Adelaide has won the second half in 12 of its last 13 away games after trailing at half-time.

• In seven of Adelaide's last eight games, the team trailing at three-quarter-time has won the fourth quarter.

• The home team has won each of the last eight games between Sydney and Adelaide.

• The home team has won each of Sydney's last eight games

• Nick Rakocevic ranks 1st amongst qualified players for rebounds per game (11.7) this season.

• Nick Rakocevic has recorded 10+ rebounds in four consecutive appearances - longest active streak of any player in the league.

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