Round 16 Home Preview v Cairns Taipans

The Adelaide 36ers enjoyed a night to remember on Saturday and now they can further keep their finals aspirations alive back at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre against the Cairns Taipans on Tuesday night.

Plenty has happened both at the Taipans and 36ers since that last meeting even if it was just three weeks ago and it all sets the stage for a fascinating battle on Tuesday night at Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

Coming into Tuesday's game, Adelaide is coming off a season-preserving win on Saturday night at home over the Brisbane Bullets while the Taipans haven't played since a loss at home last Sunday night to the South East Melbourne Phoenix.

The 36ers are back at home and they have been in dominant form in their recent appearances at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre beating the Illawarra Hawks by 12 points, Perth Wildcats by 15 points and Bullets by 22 points.

Tuesday night is just the third last home game the Sixers will have for the rest of the season so they can't afford to let the slip if they want to stay in the playoff hunt. 

Right now the 36ers are looking on at the top four from the outside with an 11-16 record and with nine matches to go to be behind the Kings (14-13), Phoenix (14-13), Hawks (13-14) and Bullets (11-14).

But right now it's an impressive running 36ers outfit. With Daniel Johnson, Isaac Humphries and Keanu Pinder up front, Josh Giddey coming off back-to-back triple-doubles as point guard, and then with Sunday Dech, Brandon Paul, Jack McVeigh and Tony Crocker, they have plenty of weapons.

The Taipans have won of their last six games against the 36ers, but this will be their first visit to Adelaide since a 19-point win late last season that locked in a playoff berth.

Sixers coach Conner Henry knows that if his team wants to stay in the playoff hunt they can't afford to drop too many, if any games in the run home, so no way are they taking Tuesday's clash with Cairns for granted.

"It's a one game series for us every game now. We know that from injuries and fatigue and the bubble, and not playing at a high level offensively and import changes, that's our season," Henry said. 

"But I've always believed in the group and we've put a good game plan together the last four or five games, and we've won some games and we've had a couple of setbacks. 

"We'll continue to fight and get prepared for Cairns on Tuesday. I know they are sitting for a week and they'll be rested and will come in, but if we do the little things and execute, and play for each other we are pretty good when we do that."

The improvement throughout the season of Keanu Pinder is another factor giving the 36ers a different dimensions right now and Henry is being rewarded for showing the faith in sticking with him.

"Keanu had 19 and seven with three blocks and zero turnovers. If you've been tracking us ever since Ice went down he has been continuing to get better and better. His confidence is just soaring right now and he's put the work in and he's happy and healthy," Henry said.

"He has turned the corner for us and I'm really pleased with his effort around the rim in making shots. He made another three threes where in the first two months teams weren’t even guarding him. 

"He has worked tirelessly in practice on it and he has the confidence going right now, and he had a great game. It was a lot of fun to watch."

Star Sixers Next Star point guard Josh Giddey has made history by recording triple-doubles in each of the past two matches, but winning is what he ultimately cares about even though being an NBA lottery pick is in his future in a couple of months' time.

"It's cool to have those stats but if they're not resulting in wins then I'd rather have zero points and get a win than have a triple-double and lose," Giddey said.

"I give a lot of credit to my teammates because they make me look good by making shots and finishing around the ring. I'm lucky to play with two really good bigs and you can say three now with Keanu hitting shots. 

"They make my life so much easier and this was a big win for us. We need to make a late run for these finals and this was a good first step for us."

As for the talk about Giddey's immediate future, he has put all that to bed and committed to finishing the season with the 36ers.

"It has never been a thought of mine to leave the team or give up on them, or pull the pin. I've seen a lot of people saying stuff like that but it's never been on my mind to leave this team," Giddey said.

"I want to be here right to the end and help this team into the top four. That's what we're going for and sitting on the sidelines just watching the games would feel selfish of me. 

"I want to be out there competing with the guys and I want to be here for the rest of the season. Calling the quits has never been on my mind and it never will be. I want to be here to the end of the season."