Round 20 Preview v Perth Wildcats

The Adelaide 36ers begin their string of road matches to close the #NBL22 season with a battle against arch-rivals Perth Wildcats at RAC Arena on Thursday night.

The Sixers played their final game of the 2021/22 NBL season back on Monday night against the Brisbane at Adelaide Entertainment Centre with the final four matches all now on the road over the final two rounds.

That begins on Thursday night out west against the Wildcats before the 36ers take on the Kings in Sydney on Sunday, the South East Melbourne Phoenix in Melbourne next Friday, and then finally in Hobart against the New Zealand Breakers next Sunday.

Thursday night's game in Perth will be the fourth and final meeting the 36ers will have with the Wildcats this season, and it's a chance for Adelaide to square the ledger at two wins apiece.

The two teams started the season back on December 3 at RAC Arena with the Wildcats winning that game 85-73. The Sixers got one back in the next meeting on January 18, beating the 'Cats 87-74 at Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

The most recent meeting was also in Adelaide and on that occasion it was the Wildcats beating the 36ers 92-73.

However, Thursday night presents the chance for the 36ers to get their second win over the Wildcats for the season and to do so in front of around 11,000 people.

A win for the 36ers could also put in jeopardy the finals aspirations of the Wildcats as they attempt to lock away a 36th consecutive playoff appearance in the NBL.

The Sixers will again be without Cam Bairstow and Manny Malou for the trip to Perth but Dusty Hannahs is a chance to return while Kai Sotto is fresh off his best performance of the season of 21 points on Monday night against the Brisbane Bullets.

The Wildcats will welcome back point guard and vice-captain Mitch Norton along with import guard Michael Frazier for the clash which they will be attempting to win and further consolidate their place in the top four.

Sixers coach CJ Bruton doesn’t ever need any motivation to try and win a game he's part of, but if they can upset some finals hopes of their opponents in the run home with the four road games then that might be an added bonus.

"That's always the plan, I didn’t come here to lose games and we've been losing quite a bit," Bruton said.

"To go ahead and making a difference to upset teams or just forcing them to adjust and figure out what their game plan is, and hopefully giving the teams that come up against each other in the playoffs a different game plan or something to look at.

"Every game provides a chance to continue to get better and improve. For us it's about putting our best foot forward every chance to get out on the court whoever you get to compete against, and doing it at a high level. 

"We look forward to getting on the road to do that and we would like to have a home game somewhere in between there, but this is how the season has gone and schedule is set up. It's good to have the group together and to get to spend some time together on the road to finish the season."

HUNGRY JACK'S 2021/22 NBL SEASON – ROUND 20

ADELAIDE 36ERS v PERTH WILDCATS
RAC Arena, Perth, Thursday 9.00pm ACDT

Broadcast – ESPN; Kayo; Sky Sport NZ