DrinkWise Preview: NBL26 - Round 6, Game 2 v Adelaide 36ers

After another win on Friday evening, we will look to equal the club’s best ever start to a season on Sunday afternoon when we take on the Adelaide 36ers inside John Cain Arena from 2:30pm.

Eight consecutive wins, which have come by an average margin of 19.5 points per game, has the team rolling as we return home for a battle between first and second on the competition table.

The contest will carry some extra meaning, as Tanner Krebs will suit up for his 150th NBL appearance, while we wear our Indigenous Uniforms for the first time this season.

For Adelaide, they will look to improve on their 5-1 record, while ending a run which has seen them lose nine of their past 10 away games against us.

WHAT’S THE WORD?

With so much anticipation ahead of Sunday, Dean Vickerman touched on his excitement to return home and play in front of a massive John Cain Arena crowd.

“It’s going to be a sold out John Cain Arena, which we always look forward to,” Vickerman explained.

“Challenge yourself against Bryce (Cotton) who’s playing at a phenomenal level right now. Obviously Shea (Ili) has always had the job of slowing him down, but now that falls on Tyson and Dash and the whole group.

“We’re really looking forward to playing this game on Sunday.”

Adelaide 36ers Head Coach Mike Wells says he is aware of the challenge in front of his team as they look to put an end to our winning streak.

“Melbourne United's been the standard. (They’ve got a) long history of being a very good club,” Wells said.

“I mean, they're just good every year, good coaching, good players. They win a lot of games. They do a great job recruiting players, they’ve got a great system. Dean does an outstanding job. They're organised, they're detailed, and they're disciplined.

“For us in our journey, game seven, it's a really good opportunity for us to go down there and play against a really good team and see where we're at.”

WHO’S HOT, WHO'S NOT

Across our eight wins to start the season, the well-rounded scoring contribution from the entire lineup has meant that we are always a threat to put points on the board, no matter which players are on the court.

Over 40% of our scoring this season has come off the bench, and five different players are averaging double-digit point averages, led by Chris Goulding (18.8).

This is a stark contrast to Adelaide, who get over 30% of their scoring from one player; Bryce Cotton, and average just 15.5 points off the bench per game.

Cotton has been masterful to start the 2025-26 season, as has former United star Isaac Humphries, who is scoring a career-best 16.3 points per game.

GAME INFO

Who: Melbourne United vs Adelaide 36ers

Tip-off: 2:30pm AEDT, Sunday 26 October, 2025

Where: John Cain Arena, Melbourne

Watch: Channel 10 & ESPN

Tickets: Limited seats remaining

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