"Must-Win" For Precariously Placed 36ers

With just five games left, the Adelaide 36ers are teetering on the edge of dropping out of the finals race.

They've got games in place on their rivals, but after three straight losses, it's now or never for CJ Bruton's team.

Sitting in eighth place, they're preparing to take on the Brisbane Bullets on Thursday night in enemy territory. What a fortnight ago looked one to mark in the wins column, all of a sudden looms as a a danger game.

The Bullets are riding high after a long-awaited win against South East Melbourne, and Adelaide can be forgiven for being just a little nervous going in.

Produce anything other than their best, and the 36ers push for finals becomes even tougher. 

"It's a big game, a must-win on the road," Antonius Cleveland said. 

"I feel we all know how big it is, and I'm excited about it. We've got no choice, we've got must-win games now and we know what's at stake."

Cleveland said Adelaide would go in with nothing but respect for a Brisbane side that's ultimately performed well below its potential in NBL23. The Bullets have won just six games, but with stars like Aron Baynes, Nathan Sobey and Tyler Johnson at their disposal, cannot be undermined.

"I think the feeling they've got after beating Phoenix, they're going to try and get that feeling again ... just knowing you could ruin another team's season," he said. 

"It's something to play for as competitors, I respect it, we've just got to come out ready to play."

So just what are the keys to success for Adelaide on Thursday night?

"(Jason) Cadee had a big game, the key is winning the rebound war, keeping people out of the paint and defending without fouling," Cleveland added.

Adelaide faces Brisbane at 7.30pm AEDT at Nissan Arena, with the game live on ESPN via Kayo and Foxtel.