Sixers survive nail-biter with Hawks

Last season's championship hero, Davo Hickey, missed a chance to get the game to overtime with the Adelaide 36ers holding out the Illawarra Hawks for the 90-88 victory at home on Sunday.

The Hawks trailed by as much as eight points late in the third quarter before producing a strong finish to close the margin to one with a minute to go as they attempted to rebound from Friday's record 42-point home loss to the New Zealand Breakers.

When 36ers superstar Bryce Cotton made only one at the stripe with 6.4 seconds remaining, it meant Illawarra trailed by just two points with the chance to either win or tie the game.

Hickey had a brilliant all-round game for the Hawks in just his second appearance of the season following an eye injury. He had 20 points, nine rebounds, eight assists and a career-best four blocks.

He then stepped up to the foul line with a chance to send the game into overtime at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre with Illawarra down two.

He missed the first and then intentionally missed the second in the hope of his team getting the offensive rebound, but it wasn’t to be with the Sixers holding on for the two-point win.

The win improves Adelaide to 6-2 on the season with the win on the back of making seven more three-pointers than the Hawks, taking 12 extra free throws, and pulling down 14 offensive rebounds to six.

Cotton shot just 5/14 from the field with strong defensive efforts from Dan Grida and Wani Swaka Lo Buluk, but he went 11/14 at the foul line with the five-time MVP finishing with 24 points and nine assists.

Captain DJ Vasiljevic knocked down 4/10 from downtown for 16 points, three rebounds and three assists while Zylan Cheatham was huge again with 13 points, 13 boards and four assists while also spending significant time on JaVale McGee.

It was a vastly improved showing from Illawarra despite the narrow loss with McGee finishing with 17 points, 11 rebounds and six assists despite only attempting one free-throw.

Tyler Harvey added 15 points, three rebounds and three assists, Mason Peatling 12 points, six boards and three assists, and Todd Blanchfield 10 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Cotton scored seven points in the opening term - including a late three-pointer - as Adelaide went to quarter-time with a 21-19 edge.

Hawks big man Jonah Bolden limped off in the second quarter with what appeared to be a left groin injury, ending his game having just entered the starting line-up.

Scores were locked at 41-apiece at half-time, but the Hawks finally caught fire from long range to open an eight-point lead midway through the third quarter.

Adelaide hit back with their own three-point barrage - including two to Cotton - as the home side went on a 22-6 run to build an eight-point lead late in the third.

Scoring dried up for the 36ers in the last term, and the pressure was so hot that even the ever-reliable Cotton missed a pair of free throws at one point, before Adelaide did enough to hold on.

The 36ers now take on the New Zealand Breakers in Christchurch this Thursday before a return home next Sunday as they welcome the Perth Wildcats with Cotton up against his old team for the first time.

The Hawks are straight back home for a Championship Series rematch and Ignite Cup by Disney+ match up with Melbourne United on Wednesday night.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26

ADELAIDE 36ERS 90 (Cotton 24, Vasiljevic 16, Cheatham 13)

ILLAWARRA HAWKS 88 (Hickey 20, McGee 17, Harvey 15)

BOX SCORE