WASTING no time in recovering from a loss last weekend, the Adelaide 36ers got themselves back on the winners’ list in the National Basketball League (NBL) last night, defeating the Tasmania JackJumpers by 11 points.

Both teams came into the clash on the back of losses in Round 8, and the JackJumpers were hosting the Sixers looking to break a streak of four consecutive defeats. It would be a tall order without star big man Will Magnay and facing an Adelaide side that boasted plenty of star power in the form of Bryce Cotton, Zylan Cheatham, Dejan Vasiljevic and Isaac Humphries.

As expected, the Sixers were simply too good at MyState Bank Arena on Thursday night, leading by as much as 28 points and holding off a strong JackJumpers performance in the fourth quarter to still win by double digits and get their campaign back on track.

Tasmania JackJumpers (86) def. by Adelaide 36ers (97)

It was a different looking Adelaide starting lineup, with Matt Kenyon replacing Vasiljevic as the visitors prioritised the former’s defence, shaping as a formidable matchup for star Tasmania import Bryce Hamilton.

Hamilton has been the focal point of the JackJumpers’ offence throughout the 2025/26 season, often proving a lone hand on the scoring front for a team that can struggle to put points on the board. However, he was well restricted by former Tasmania wing Kenyon, who held the import to just 12 points on 4/11 shooting from the field, unable to catch fire as he had done in so many matches this season.

On the other hand, the JackJumpers employed a team defence to curb the influence of five-time MVP Cotton, who appears on his way to his sixth individual honour in the coming months based on recent form. However, he had to deal with close checking from the home side at MyState Bank Arena, and was restricted to just 12 points on 2/10 shooting.

Instead, it was Cheatham who stepped up for Adelaide, producing a season-best performance on Thursday night to spark the visitors towards victory. By the main break, he already had 16 points to his name to be a decisive factor in the match, and the forward finished with a whopping 27 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and two blocks, shooting 9/12 from the field and 3/4 from long range.

The Sixers led by nearly 30 points in the third quarter and it looked as if Adelaide was going to cruise home to a comfortable victory. However, the visitors went on an offensive drought for seven minutes in the fourth quarter, which allowed Tasmania to get back within seven points and trouble the opposition, before the Sixers steadied and held on for an 11-point triumph.

For the JackJumpers, import point guard Tyger Campbell was far and away their best with 20 points and three assists, nailing four shots from long range to shoulder the load on the scoring front with Hamilton well-held. Majok Deng had 17 points off the bench while Josh Bannan poured in a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds.