Sixers hold out JackJumpers to go 3-0

Five-time MVP Bryce Cotton starred again as the Adelaide 36ers sprinted to their best start to an NBL season in 25 years, snapping the Tasmania JackJumpers' three-game winning streak with a 98-89 victory.

Cotton was proving tough to contain for the JackJumpers especially in the first half where he attempted 13 free throws on his way to 19 of his 29 points for the game.

Adelaide attempted 27 free throws in the first half alone to nine from Tasmania on the way to a nine-point half-time lead and then the eventual nine-point victory as they improve to 3-0 on the season.

On top of Cotton's 29 points along with nine assists and three steals, Isaac Humphries starred for the home team in front of a sellout crowd of 9320 at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Thursday night.

The result means the 36ers advance to 3-0, their best start to a season since winning their first five games back in 2000-01.

Humphries finished with 24 points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists with DJ Vasiljevic contributing 13 points, Flynn Cameron 12 points, three boards and three assists, and Zylan Cheatham eight points, nine rebounds and three assists.

Tasmania couldn’t quite make it four straight road wins with Bryce Hamilton producing another 22 points and nine assists with 8/14 field goal shooting.

Will Magnay played another 35 minutes for 17 points, six rebounds, three steals and three blocks with Josh Bannan providing 14 points and two boards, Tyger Campbell eight points and two assists, TJ Starks eight points and five assists, and Ben Ayre eight points and two assists.

Cotton hit all seven free-throw attempts in the opening period, which featured 10 lead changes and finished with Adelaide inching ahead 21-20 on Humphries' last-second tip-in.

Turnovers and fouls hindered the JackJumpers in the second stanza.

Cheatham's spectacular reverse alley-oop slam - from a Cotton lob - was the highlight of the term as the Sixers moved ahead 51-42 at half-time.

Humphries was active in the paint in the third term, but Tasmania scored freely at the other end, closing the gap to a single point courtesy of Ben Ayre's eight-point flurry in 73 seconds and Tyger Campbell's three.

Adelaide captain Vasiljevic responded with a triple of his own to give the hosts a 76-72 cushion at three quarter-time.

Another Vasiljevic bomb capped a 9-2 burst to start the fourth as the Sixers' lead swelled to double digits.

Hamilton drained successive treys to slice the gap to six points, but that was as close as the visitors got.

The 36ers remain at home to host the Sydney Kings on Saturday night where all eyes will be on Kendric Davis' return to the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

The JackJumpers have now completed their four-game road stretch and will return to MyState Bank Arena for the first time since the opening night of the season to play the Kings on Wednesday night as part of the Ignite Cup.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26

ADELAIDE 36ERS 98 (Cotton 29, Humphries 24, Vasiljevic 13)

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 89 (Hamilton 22, Magnay 17, Bannan 14)

BOX SCORE