{"id":46221,"date":"2025-10-09T13:06:33","date_gmt":"2025-10-09T03:06:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/basketball\/?p=46221"},"modified":"2025-10-09T13:06:35","modified_gmt":"2025-10-09T03:06:35","slug":"in-form-teams-set-to-lock-horns-in-thursday-encounter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/basketball\/in-form-teams-set-to-lock-horns-in-thursday-encounter\/","title":{"rendered":"In-form teams set to lock horns in Thursday encounter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

FOLLOWING last night’s Ignite Cup action, Round 4 of the National Basketball League (NBL) officially kicks off tonight with a clash between the Tasmania JackJumpers<\/a> and the Adelaide 36ers<\/a> at Adelaide Entertainment Centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both teams are in form with consecutive wins under their belt, and have emerged as strong contenders for the 2025\/26 championship, ensuring tonight’s battle in South Australia will be one of the most anticipated games of the fixture to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With some big names on both sides – none more so than five-time MVP and Sixers recruit Bryce Cotton<\/a> – the contest could go down to the wire at Adelaide Entertainment Centre, and could also be a preview of some finals action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Adelaide 36ers vs. Tasmania JackJumpers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Thursday, October 9 @ 7:30pm<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Sixers had a delayed start to the season, not playing a game in Round 1, but have blown off the cobwebs over the past couple of weeks and have not lost a game from their two outings, emerging as a true threat to the title in the coming months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an eventful lead up to the season, highlighted by the addition of Cotton, who joined the team following three titles and five MVPs with the Perth Wildcats<\/a>. Since joining the Sixers, he has looked every bit the best player in the competition, and could be in line for his sixth gong for the highest individual honour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cotton has given Tasmania headaches in the past, and Scott Roth <\/strong><\/em>will be eager to keep the ball out of the superstar’s hands. Although the reigning MVP will undoubtedly be one of the best scorers of the game, getting some extra production from Dejan Vasiljevic<\/a> would be a huge boost for Adelaide’s chances of getting the win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The JackJumpers had a shaky start to the season when they lost to Melbourne United<\/a> in the opening match of the season, but have since bounced back to win three on the trot and move back towards the top of the standings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The JackJumpers lost one of their star recruits in David Johnson<\/strong> to a calf injury in recent weeks, but brought in TJ Starks <\/strong>before he heads to China, and it seems to be a winning move based on last week’s performance, where he had 18 points in 18 minutes off the bench.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The battle of the big men will be crucial for Tasmania, and captain Will Magnay<\/a> is at the head of this for the JackJumpers. One of the best defensive big men in the NBL, the Boomer will need to be at his rim-protecting best in order to take the paint away from the home side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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