Round 13 Preview v Sydney Kings

The Adelaide 36ers are back home to the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Sunday afternoon looking to bounce back from Friday's loss in a first match up with the Sydney Kings for #NBL22.

The Sixers opened up Round 13 in the NBL on Friday night in Wollongong with an eventual 87-71 defeat to the Illawarra Hawks, but it was a much closer game than that scoreline suggests.

Now it's a short turnaround little over 36 hours later to host the red hot and refreshed Sydney Kings at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Sunday afternoon.

It's the first chance for the 36ers to play the Kings this season. It's a Sydney team who had a bit of a rocky start to NBL22, but who has now found their groove winning four straight matches, and six of the last seven to be knocking on the door of the top four.

That sets the stage for a fascinating match up at the Entertainment Centre and it's one that 36ers captain Mitch McCarron is looking forward to for all the challenges that the Kings are sure to present.

"We are excited for the couple of tough rounds we've got with teams in the hunt for playoff spots and we know that the Kings are probably the hottest team in the league right now up there with Melbourne United," McCarron said on latest Sixers Fix with Scott Ninnis podcast.

"We're excited for that, they are super talented and high-octane and play super fast on offence. So we are going to have to be switched on with our coverages and make sure we know what we're doing.

"But the biggest thing from them is making sure we limit turnovers and their ability to score easy buckets off those. They do look like the kind of team that if you give them an early dunk or a couple of open threes to get going and they are going to be pretty hard to slow down."

There's no question Sydney presents a significant challenge for Adelaide on Sunday, with the Kings finding their groove offensively during this current winning run.

The Kings have scored 90 or more points in four of their previous seven matches so it's going to take an improved defensive performance from the Sixers to stop them catching fire.

They certainly have plenty of offensive weapons though. Point guard Jaylen Adams is in ominous form both running the team and in scoring while Jarell Martin is a force down low while DJ Vasiljevic is a shooting threat and they've just added NBA champion Ian Clark.

The Kings aren’t just an offensive juggernaut, Xavier Cooks is having a huge impact on games in all areas as well, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk is a lockdown defender and Angus Glover and Shaun Bruce are more than handy even if Sydney is without Jaylin Galloway and Tom Vodanovich through national duties.

So the task is ahead of the 36ers, but the form in recent times at home at the Entertainment Centre has been impressive. There was the memorable overtime win over Melbourne United and then last Sunday's victory over the Cairns Taipans.

Adelaide will look to keep that momentum going on their home floor on Sunday against a dangerous and exciting Sydney team. 

HUNGRY JACK'S 2021/22 NBL SEASON – ROUND 13

ADELAIDE 36ERS v SYDNEY KINGS
Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Sunday 12.30pm ACDT

Broadcast – ESPN; 10 Peach; 10 Play; Kayo; Sky Sport NZ