Match Preview: Sixers looking to level series, defend home court

The Adelaide 36ers will be looking to level the NBL Championship Series in front of a big home crowd on Friday night.

After a disappointing showing in Sydney at the weekend, the Sixers will be expected to show more fight this week as they look to make it one-all in the series against the Kings.

On a 14-game winning run after Saturday night’s result, the Kings go in as warm favourites with the bookies.

And Brian Goorjian’s side has a good record at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, winning five of its 11 visits to the venue including on its first trip to Adelaide this season when the Kings won comfortably.

Conversely, the Sixers have won their last five finals games after a loss, and will be looking for a response.

The ability of the Kings to guard Sixers co-captain Bryce Cotton with physicality and at times up to three players has been a key talking point to come from the first game of the series.

Cotton says he is used to the attention.

“For the most part, I get guarded like that all season with the majority of the teams,” he said on SEN SA’s breakfast program.

“Sometimes they get called for certain things. Sometimes they don't, but that's just a part of the game.

“I wouldn't say it's anything too drastically different (in how it is officiated in finals).”

There have been six days between games, with less than two until game three.

While Cotton admitted he would usually prefer more games in quicker succession, he said on this occasion it has helped the side reset.

“To a certain degree you'd want to hurry up and play the next game," he said.

"But also for our sake I guess (with) how game one went, it was probably good to kind of sit back and be like ‘no hold on let's figure out how this thing happened, why it happened and how we can prevent it from happening again’.”

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

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

ADELAIDE 36ERS vs SYDNEY KINGS 
Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Friday 27 March, 7:00pm ACDT
Live on ESPN via Kayo Sports or Disney+

OVERALL
Played 117, Adelaide 65, Sydney 52

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

LAST FIVE MATCHES
Mar 21, 2026 – Kings 112 def 36ers 68 at Qudos Bank Arena
Jan 25, 2026 – Kings 106 def 36ers 101 at Qudos Bank Arena
Jan 2, 2026 – 36ers 85 def Kings 79 at AEC
Dec 17, 2025 – Kings 97 def 36ers 93 at AIS Arena, Canberra
Oct 11, 2025 – Kings 103 def 36ers 79 at AEC

KEY STATS

·       Adelaide has won each of its last 11 Friday games against Sydney.

·       The home team has won each of Adelaide's last 13 Championship Series games.

·       Adelaide has won each of its last six games at Adelaide Entertainment Centre after trailing at quarter-time.

·       Adelaide has won each of its last five finals games following a loss.

·       Adelaide attempted just six free throws against Sydney on Saturday - team's equal-fewest free-throw attempts in a game since Round 6, 2001/02.

·       Adelaide shot just 27-78 (34.6%) from the field against Sydney on Saturday - team's lowest field goal percentage in a game this season.

·       Including finals, Bryce Cotton ranks 1st amongst qualified players for points per game (26.3) this season.

·       Bryce Cotton has recorded 4+ assists in 33 consecutive appearances - longest active streak of any player in the league.

·       Sydney has won each of its last 14 games.

·       Sydney has won the fourth quarter in each of its last nine games.