Quick turnaround to spark 36ers’ response

Adelaide 36ers head coach Mike Wells said Monday night’s home clash against Illawarra Hawks is the best way to rebound after Friday night’s overtime defeat in Hobart.

The 36ers will be searching for their third straight win against the current NBL25 ladder leaders and Wells is aware his side has a tough schedule to finish the month of January.

“The quick turnaround I hope is a really big positive for us. We have a bunch of games coming here quickly and they're all important and should have our full attention,” Wells said.

“You sort of have to refocus, but we'll get back home and look at some of those things, and do our preparation and move forward to try and get ready to play a really good Illawarra team at home that we have had some success against.”

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Adelaide will again play in front of a sold out Entertainment Centre crowd and the club will honour Daniel Johnson by retiring his no.21 jersey pre-game.

"We know that we will get their full effort but we'll try to use our home crowd and try to take care of home court advantage to get that win, and then we'll worry about the next one,” Wells said.

The 36ers will look to exploit their triple threat of big men Isaac Humphries, Montrezl Harrell and Jarell Martin against Illawarra’s Sam Froling.

“I think we have the three best big men in the competition, and we need to try and exploit that,” Wells said.

Kendric Davis was outstanding against Tasmania JackJumpers, scoring a career-high 39 points and Wells expects the Hawks to try and limit his import point guard’s influence on the result.

"He's a shot maker, he's a warrior, he loves to compete, and he loves the game of basketball," Wells said.

"He's a handful and he's hard to guard, and they start putting guys around him to try to put him in a crowd but he finds a way at times.

“We just have to keep complementing him and spacing the floor.”

ADELAIDE 36ERS vs ILLAWARRA HAWKS
Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Monday 7pm ACDT
Live on ESPN via Kayo Sports

OVERALL
Played 137, Adelaide 80, Illawarra 57

LIKELY STARTERS
36ers: Kendric Davis, DJ Vasiljevic, Lat Mayen, Montrezl Harrell, Isaac Humphries.
Hawks: Trey Kell, Tyler Harvey, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk, Mason Peatling, Sam Froling.

LAST FIVE MATCHES
Nov 10, 2024 – 36ers 93 def Hawks 79 at AEC
Oct 5, 2024 – 36ers 102 def Hawks 100 at WIN Entertainment Centre
Jan 20, 2024 – 36ers 96 def Hawks 89 at WIN Entertainment Centre
Dec 31, 2023 – Hawks 91 def 36ers 84 at WIN Entertainment Centre
Oct 14, 2023 – 36ers 89 def Illawarra Hawks 80 at AEC

STATS THAT MATTER
- Adelaide has won the fourth quarter in each of its last eight games against Illawarra.
- The 36ers have won seven of its last eight games against Illawarra.
- Adelaide has won its past four home games against the Hawks.
- Isaac Humphries ranks 3rd for FG% (61.1%) this season.
- Adelaide ranks 1st in the league for free throw attempts per game this season (24.7).
- Montrezl Harrell is one of only two players ranked top 10 in the league for both points (19.9) and rebounds (8.9) per game this season.
- DJ Vasiljevic is just three away from 300 NBL career three-pointers.
- Montrezl Harrell recorded a season-high seven assists in his last appearance.
- Kendric Davis has recorded 5+ assists in 13 consecutive appearances - longest active streak of any player in the league.