Ninnis says Sixers prepared for next battle

Adelaide 36ers head coach Scott Ninnis said his side can only look towards the next game, a Sunday afternoon showdown against Tasmania JackJumpers at MyState Bank Arena.

Ninnis was thrilled with Adelaide’s final quarter frenzy in Friday night’s 85-78 win against Sydney at the Entertainment Centre and said the focus on Tasmania only started after success against the Kings.

“We can only focus on the next game in hand,” Ninnis said post-game on Friday night.

“There was no thought at all in my mind the fact we are playing at two o’clock on Sunday afternoon against Tasmania.

“We will approach that right now and we start thinking about that.”

Adelaide centre Isaac Humphries, who scored a team-high 20 points to go with 11 rebounds and four blocks against the Kings, said Friday night’s win only completed half of this round’s assignment.

“We are fighting, fighting, fighting for a spot and it’s only one job of our weekend,” Humphries, who will play his 100^th NBL match on Sunday, said.

“We have got another really big game this round against Tassie, so we just have got to back it up.”

Humphries’ match-up with Will Magnay and Marcus Lee looms large as pivotal to the outcome on Sunday afternoon and Magnay looks set to play after copping a heavy hit from Taipan Tahjere McCall in the JackJumpers’ 94-86 win in Cairns on Thursday night.

Despite showing clear discomfort and taking no further part in the match, Tasmania head coach Scott Roth doesn't expect his key big man to miss any basketball.

“He's (Magnay) walking around, he's a little upset obviously with how the whole thing transpired," Roth said on Thursday night.

"I'm always disappointed when one of our players gets knocked down or hurt.

"I don't believe he'll probably be out at all.

"I think it's more just a shot to the stomach and the sternum and getting the wind knocked out of him, which will probably be quite sore.”

Adelaide will battle Tasmania JackJumpers from 1.30pm ACDT on Sunday afternoon and you can watch off the action live and exclusive on ESPN via Kayo Sports and 10 Peach.

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TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS vs ADELAIDE 36ERS
MyState Bank Arena, Sunday 1.30pm ACDT

OVERALL
Played 8, Adelaide 2, Tasmania 6

LIKELY STARTERS
Tasmania: Jordon Crawford, Anthony Drmic, Milton Doyle, Jack McVeigh, Will Magnay.
Adelaide: Trey Kell, DJ Vasiljevic, Nick Marshall, Kyrin Galloway, Isaac Humphries.

LAST FIVE MATCHES
Dec 2, 2023 – JackJumpers 94 def 36ers 59 at MyState Bank Arena
Nov 11, 2023 - JackJumpers 82 def 36ers 72 at AEC
Jan 12, 2023 – JackJumpers 98 def 36ers 82 at MyState Bank Arena
Dec 19, 2022 – 36ers 93 def JackJumpers 82 at AEC
Nov 13, 2022 – JackJumpers 97 def 36ers 72 at AEC

STATS THAT MATTER

• Tasmania has won its past three games against Adelaide.
• Adelaide ranks 2nd in the league for rebounds per game this season (43.4).
• Tasmania has won the first half in each of its last five games against Adelaide.
• Adelaide has won the first half in seven of its last eight games.
• Tasmania has won the second half in each of its last six games.
• Adelaide has lost the second half in 14 of its last 15 Sunday games after leading at half-time.
• Jason Cadee is just two away from 600 NBL career three-pointers.
• Tasmania has won the second half in seven of its last eight games after trailing at half-time.
• Mitch McCarron is just two away from 200 NBL career three-pointers.
• Jordon Crawford has been blocked 24 times this season - most of any player in the league.
• Marcus Lee has a career average of 9.0 rebounds per game against Adelaide - equal-most against any opponent.
• Dejan Vasiljevic ranks 3rd for FT% (88.9%) this season.
• Clint Steindl ranks 1^st for 3P% (52.4%) this season.
• Jack McVeigh ranks 1st for second chance points per game (3.3) this season.