Match preview: Sixers seeking Friday-Sunday double

The Adelaide 36ers will return home for the first time in nearly a month, aiming to celebrate 40 years since the club’s first NBL Championship with a win of their own.

The 1986 Championship celebration game will see the Sixers host the Brisbane Bullets, the same side the club beat in the Grand Final Series all those years ago.

Among the celebrations will be the ’86 side being presented with championship rings at half time because that tradition had not started back then.

A win over the Bullets would see the Sixers continue to rise up the ladder.

They started the round in eighth position, pushing for a spot inside the competition’s top four after Friday night’s win over the Breakers in New Zealand.

The Bullets are coming off a poor loss to Cairns on Thursday night and will have the benefit of an extra day’s rest between games but both sides are likely to be travel weary, particularly the Sixers who have not played at home since October 7.

The Sixers had the wood over the Bullets last season, winning all four meetings including a heated contest last time out when they met on the Gold Coast.

A late brawl in that game saw seven ejections, but with 10 players hitting the scoreboard including five in double digits, the Sixers ran away late on the back of a 39-19 last quarter to win 107-84.

Powerful forward Zylan Cheatham is excited to get back to the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, both for the club’s big celebration and to be back in front of the home fans, who have been starved of live action in recent weeks.

He said after going 3-1 in the four-game road run, there was nothing he looked forward to more than being home.

“That was a big point of emphasis in our pre-game speech (on Friday),” he said.

“You know, we’ve got this four game away stand. Can we close it out the right way and get back home?

“We're definitely hyped about it. I mean, we’ve got the best fans in the league.

“I can't wait to sleep in my own bed and wake up and get in my routine and stuff, and, yeah, I'm definitely excited about it.”

Sunday’s game tips off at 4:30pm ACDT. If you can’t be at the venue, you can watch it live on ESPN via Kayo or Disney+ or you can listen in to SEN SA’s live call of the game through the Adelaide 36ers app.

The last remaining tickets are available at Ticketek.

ADELAIDE 36ERS vs BRISBANE BULLETS  

Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Sunday 1 November, 4:30pm ACDT

Live on ESPN via Kayo Sports or Disney+ or listen to the SEN SA call through the Adelaide 36ers app.

OVERALL

Played 105, Adelaide 55, Brisbane 50

At Adelaide Entertainment Centre

Played 12, Adelaide 7, Brisbane 5

LAST FIVE MATCHES

Jan 28, 2026 – 36ers 107 def Bullets 74 at Gold Coast Sport and Leisure Centre

Jan 4, 2026 – 36ers 97 def Bullets 86 at Brisbane Entertainment Centre

Dec 5, 2025 – 36ers 90 def Bullets 65 at AEC

Sept 21, 2025 – 36ers 87 def Bullets 80 at AEC

Jan 31, 2025 – Bullets 92 def 36ers 89 at AEC