Match Preview: Sixers starting home stretch against Snakes

The Adelaide 36ers will start a stretch of three straight home games with a Christmas Eve clash against Cairns on Wednesday evening.

There will be Ignite Cup points up for grabs, and the Sixers will be hoping to claim as many of the seven points on offer to keep alive their homes of making the final.

They are currently ranked fourth on the Ignite Cup ladder with eight points from two games, 10 points behind leaders New Zealand with a game in hand. A win and all seven points would see the Sixers jump into the top two.

And they will fancy their chances against the Taipans who sit bottom of both the Ignite Cup and Hungry Jack’s NBL ladders.

The Sixers have been victorious on each of the last five meetings between the sides, including three wins this year – most recently in overtime on November 16 at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

The top-ranked Sixers are coming off a win over Illawarra in Wollongong on Saturday and have a season record of 15-4 while the Taipans are 5-14 and have been unable to put two wins together since Round 2.

The visitors will come to Adelaide hoping to rebound from their disappointing 42-point loss to Sydney on Sunday afternoon.

Former Sixer Jack McVeigh has been huge for the Taipans in recent weeks, averaging 29.7 points per game since Round 9 to be the highest scoring player in the league.

Fresh off signing a two-year contract extension, Sixers forward Zylan Cheatham says his side is full of respect for both McVeigh and the Taipans

“He's obviously the head of snake,” Cheatham said of McVeigh.

“He's one hell of a player. I mean, he's had a lot of success in this league and at the highest level also, so he's definitely somebody we’ve got to note.

“But, they have a lot of dangerous players on their roster.

“They're playing pretty free right now. They're coming off of a bad loss against Sydney, so I know how it is coming off of a loss like that, and you want to get that next one so we’ve got to keep that in mind.”

Wednesday’s game gets underway at 5:00pm ACDT.

ADELAIDE 36ERS vs CAIRNS TAIPANS
Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Wednesday 24 December, 5:00pm ACDT
Live on ESPN via Kayo Sports or Disney+  

OVERALL
Played 91, Adelaide 51, Cairns 40

At Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Played 10, Adelaide 8, Cairns 2

LAST FIVE MATCHES
Nov 16, 2025 – 36ers 105 def Taipans 101 at AEC
Oct 18, 2025 – 36ers 91 def Taipans 86 at Cairns Convention Centre
Oct 2, 2025 – 36ers 110 def Taipans 79 at Cairns Convention Centre 
Jan 19, 2025 – 36ers 99 def Taipans 75 at Cairns Convention Centre
Oct 25, 2024 – 36ers 99 def Taipans 93 at AEC

KEY STATS

·       Adelaide has won each of its last 14 games at Adelaide Entertainment Centre when playing with a rest advantage.

·       Adelaide has won each of its last four games after trailing at half-time.

·       Adelaide has won each of its last seven games when allowing fewer than 90 points.

·       Adelaide has won eight of its last nine games.

·       Adelaide has won each of its last five games against Cairns.

·       Each of the last two games between Adelaide and Cairns at Adelaide Entertainment Centre have gone to overtime.

·       Cairns has lost the second half in seven of its last eight games after leading at half-time.

·       Cairns has lost 13 of its last 16 games.

·       Dejan Vasiljevic has hit at least one three-pointer in 39 consecutive appearances - longest active streak of any player in the league.

·       Bryce Cotton has a career average of 25.2 points per game against Cairns - most against any opponent