Match Preview: Sixers seeking Sydney streak

The Adelaide 36ers will be aiming to make it five straight wins over Sydney and to remain unbeaten after four games this season when they face off against the Kings at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Saturday night.

Not since September last year have the Kings beaten the Sixers, dating back to the Hoopsfest meeting in Perth.

The most recent three wins by Adelaide have each come in Sydney, though the Sixers have also won the last three games the sides have played at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

Much of the discussion leading into the game has been the head-to-head match-up of last season’s MVP Bryce Cotton and his runner-up Kendrick Davis. Davis was wearing a 36ers jersey last season and will have a point to prove against the former Perth Wildcat.

There was already expected to be some extra spice in the contest given the Sixers eliminated the Kings from the finals in last season’s Play-In game in February.

But Wells downplayed any rivalry nor focus on Davis’s return from his side.

“Kendrick was here, what, eight months and, man, he played great,” Wells said.

“(He averaged) 28 and eight, runner-up in the MVP. He did a hell of a job. You know, he's a very, very good, unique player. We're lucky that he's in the league.

“(But) for us, it's focussing on the Sydney Kings, and we always talk about the other teams' best player, whether it's, you know, Bryce Hamilton or Jack McVeigh… so there'll be a focus but they have a lot of really good players, right? (Matthew) Dellavadova is like a quarterback for that team, and what Xavier Cooks does.

“I think we just focus on the Adelaide 36ers and where we're trying to go and what we're trying to do and you know, we're trying to be the best versions of ourselves every day and you know, the Sydney Kings present a whole bunch of different challenges than the Tasmanian JackJump(ers).”

The Kings are coming off a disappointing home loss to Melbourne United on Wednesday night in the first of the Ignite Cup matches.

Stars Cooks, Davis and Dellavadova were relatively well held in that game with Cooks threatening all game but going 1/10 from the free throw line and finishing with 21 points.

It left the Kings with a 1-2 record with three of their next four games on the road (Adelaide, Tasmania, South East Melbourne).

Saturday night’s game gets underway at 7:30pm ACST / 8:00pm AEST.

ADELAIDE 36ERS vs SYDNEY KINGS
Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Saturday 11 October, 7:30pm ACDT
Live on ESPN via Kayo Sports or Disney+

OVERALL
Played 112, Adelaide 64, Sydney 48

At Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Played 9, Adelaide 5, Sydney 4

LAST FIVE MATCHES
Feb 13, 2025 – 36ers 95 def Kings 88 at Qudos Bank Arena
Jan 24, 2025 – 36ers 105 def Kings 96 at Qudos Bank Arena
Dec 30, 2024 – 36ers 111 def Kings 96 at Qudos Bank Arena
Oct 11, 2024 – 36ers 89 def Kings 79 at AEC
Sep 22, 2024 – Kings def 36ers 94 at RAC Arena (HoopsFest)