Sixers Edge Hawks in Tense Home Thriller

The Adelaide 36ers survived a frantic finish to outlast the Illawarra Hawks 90–88 in a gripping Round 7 encounter at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Sunday.

Last season’s championship hero, Davo Hickey, had the chance to send the game to overtime, but his missed free throw in the final seconds sealed Adelaide’s hard-earned win in front of a relieved home crowd.

Illawarra came in desperate to respond after a record 42-point defeat to New Zealand on Friday, and they did exactly that — pushing the Sixers to the brink with renewed intensity and poise.

Bryce Cotton led Adelaide with 24 points and nine assists, going 11-of-14 from the stripe despite struggling from the field (5-of-14). DJ Vasiljevic provided timely shooting with 16 points, while Zylan Cheatham added another double-double — 13 points, 13 rebounds, and four assists — in a tireless two-way effort.

For the Hawks, Hickey was sensational in just his second game back from an eye injury. The 22-year-old guard nearly pulled off the miracle, finishing with 20 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, and four blocks in a complete performance that reaffirmed his importance to Illawarra’s system.

JaVale McGee added 17 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists, while Tyler Harvey contributed 15 points. Mason Peatling (12 points, six rebounds) and Todd Blanchfield (10 points, seven boards) were also strong in support.

The Hawks briefly seized control in the third quarter, hitting from deep to open an eight-point lead before Adelaide answered with a 22–6 run. Cotton’s back-to-back triples and the Sixers’ dominance on the glass turned the momentum as they stormed ahead heading into the final term.

Illawarra kept fighting, cutting the margin to one in the closing minute before Cotton’s split pair of free throws left the door open. Hickey drew a foul with 2.1 seconds left but couldn’t convert the first and was forced to miss the second intentionally — and Adelaide held on.

The 36ers’ hustle proved crucial: seven more three-pointers, 12 extra free-throw attempts, and a 14–6 offensive rebounding edge all telling the story of a team that refused to be outworked.

Adelaide improved to 6–2 with the win, while Illawarra (2–6) will take heart from their fight after the midweek embarrassment.

The Sixers now travel to Christchurch to face the New Zealand Breakers on Thursday before hosting the Perth Wildcats next Sunday in Bryce Cotton’s first meeting against his former team. The Hawks return home for an Ignite Cup clash with Melbourne United on Wednesday night.

Final score: Adelaide 36ers 90 defeated Illawarra Hawks 88.