Relentless will to win: Why the Sixers maintained belief against Wildcats

Adelaide 36ers co-captain Isaac Humphries says his side is not surprised it won against Perth on Sunday, despite the remarkable come-from-behind nature of the victory.

The Sixers looked down and out when they were 20 points down in the final quarter before an incredible turnaround saw them win 95-94 at Perth’s RAC Arena.

The win ended a run of seven straight losses to the Wildcats and ensured five-time NBL MVP Bryce Cotton had a happy homecoming in his first visit back to Perth since his off-season move to the Sixers.

Speaking after the side returned to Adelaide, Humphries said he felt the momentum swing and knew the side had the belief to get the result.

“We've been in tough situations all year sometimes and have come out the other end victorious,” Humphries said.

“(Sunday) was just like unreal. It was like a fever dream. It was crazy.

“But we expect to win every game. We think we can win every game, and we can beat anybody, so we're not surprised we won.

“Being relentless and having that fight and consistent will to win and just never backing down is something that we want to hang our hats on.

“That's our brand of Sixers basketball, that's what we want it to be. 

“I think we definitely showed that (on Sunday), and we have been showing it.” 

The side’s 13^th win in 16 games this season took the Sixers to the top of the NBL ladder.

Yet Humphries said he hadn’t even thought about being top.

“I mean, it's something that we'll have in the back of our heads,” he explained. “But it's not something we'll, I think, have front of brain. 

“I think it'll just be something we know is happening and we can just stay there and stay there forever. That's what every team wants.”

The Sixers now have a top of the table clash with Melbourne United to look forward to on Friday night and Humphries has extra reason.

The 27-year-old will play his 100^th game for the 36ers, becoming just the 37^th person to reach that milestone in the club’s history.

That it comes against a side he played 23 games for in NBL23 makes it even more special.

“100 games for the Sixers is amazing,” Humphries said.

“There's so much turnover in basketball every year and to play 100 games for one club over the span of five seasons is like a little bit unheard of nowadays so I'm very, very honoured to be doing that.

“I love my city and Adelaide and the Sixers, and everything I've been able to do here.

“So, to be able to have that on an actual marker, a tangible sort of thing is really cool for me.”

Humphries will also play his 150^th NBL game next week against Sydney, the side that gave him his NBL debut back in 2017.