THERE are still two unbeaten teams in the National Basketball League (NBL) a few weeks into the 2025/26 season, after the Adelaide 36ers defeated the Tasmania JackJumpers at Adelaide Entertainment Centre last night.

It marked the first official match of Round 4 following a pair of Ignite Cup clashes on Wednesday, and was shaping as a blockbuster encounter given the recent form of both Adelaide and Tasmania. The two sides were sitting inside the top portion of the standings, and will likely be around the mark come finals time early next year.

Adelaide’s big names in Bryce Cotton and Isaac Humphries starred as the Sixers managed to hold off a challenge from the JackJumpers, with the home side claimed a nine-point triumph for their best start to the season since 2000.

Adelaide 36ers (98) def. Tasmania JackJumpers (89)

The first quarter saw plenty of lead changes in a see-sawing affair as both teams showed their offensive firepower. Although the JackJumpers were doing well to keep in the fight against a vocal crowd at Adelaide Entertainment Centre, ill-discipline saw Cotton attempt and make seven free throws in the first frame, and at quarter-time, the hosts led 21-20.

The second quarter belonged to the Sixers as Adelaide began to capitalise on some sloppy play from Tasmania. The free throws continued for Cotton and the Sixers as the JackJumpers’ physical style of play proved costly, much like their turnovers on the eve of half time. At the main change, Adelaide held a nine-point buffer.

In another momentum swing, it was Tassie that got the upper hand in the third frame, with the JackJumpers finding their offensive momentum coming out of the main break. The margin was closed to just a single point after Ben Ayre poured in eight points in a quick burst, although a late three-pointer to Dejan Vasiljevic saw Adelaide still lead by four points at the final change.

The Sixers owned the opening stages of the final frame, going on a 9-2 run to push their lead back out to double-digits as the game started to get away from the JackJumpers. Star Tasmania recruit Bryce Hamilton knocked down back to back three-pointers off the dribble to cut the margin to six points, but the Sixers never allowed the visitors to get closer than that, holding on for their third win of the season to remain atop the standings.

19 of Cotton’s 29 points came in a blistering first half, finishing the match shooting 6/12 from the field and a near-perfect 14/15 from the free throw line to go with his nine assists. Also starring was Humphries, with the big man almost reaching his career-high, posting 24 points on 12/15 shooting to go with five rebounds (four offensive) and three steals.

For the JackJumpers, Hamilton was the standout once again, producing a team-high 22 points and trying to inspire his team on the offensive end, while Will Magnay put in a tireless performance with 17 points, six rebounds, three steals and three blocks in 35 minutes of court time.