Preview: NBL26 R2 Away v Adelaide 36ers

For the third time to start the NBL season the Brisbane Bullets will be taking on an opponent playing on their home floor for the first time when they face the Adelaide 36ers on Sunday afternoon.

By the time the game gets underway at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Sunday, the Bullets will be playing their third game already of NBL26 while the 36ers will be making their first appearance of the season.

Brisbane's season started last week with a win in Auckland against the New Zealand Breakers before they fought back from a 12-point deficit in the last quarter on Friday night against the Cairns Taipans only to end up losing by a solitary point.

The Bullets now will fly straight from Far North Queensland to Adelaide for Sunday afternoon's match up with an Adelaide team whose start to the season was held back a week while they played Greek giant Panathinaikos in Sydney last Sunday.

Brisbane not only have the short turnaround from Friday night's physical encounter, but also will likely be without Sam McDaniel who injured an ankle early in the game on top of already being without Mitch Norton who hurt a knee in the season-opener.

Despite the one-point loss for Brisbane to Cairns on Friday, there were plenty of encouraging signs once more including fighting back from 12 points down with six minutes to go to hit the front with two minutes on the clock before eventually losing by just the one point.

Coach Stu Lash gives his players credit for the fight they showed, but knows that to reach their potential ball movement has to be greatly improved and they can't continue to settle for shots after just one pass on offence.

"I give the guys credit for fighting back in the game but also put ourselves in that position and when we don’t move the ball offensively as a team and fall into one pass shots, we put ourselves in really positions at both ends of the floor," Lash said.

"But the compete was there and that's all I can ask for right now, and in defeat it's an opportunity to learn and get better which is our messaging and we have a quick turnaround to Adelaide on Sunday with some wounded bodies, but we'll be ready for the fight."

The last thing the Bullets needed after losing inspirational leader Norton in the opening game was for McDaniel to get hurt as well. That's exactly what happened after he had settled into his defensive job on Jack McVeigh and scored five quick points.

Given the presence that both Norton and McDaniel have at both ends of the floor, and in the locker room, they will be tough players to cover but Lash knows they just have to find a way to battle through.

"He just got rolled up on and it's just a basketball bang-bang play which is real unfortunate and we'll get more idea of his status tonight and tomorrow," Lash said.

"There's no question on the compete and the toughness of this group, it's very resilient and we've probably now lost our best two defensive players in the span of seven minutes of play.

"Character is tested through adversity and I have no doubt that this group will rally and we play for those guys. Norto's picture was hanging up in the locker room for this game and Norto and SMac are such an identity of who we are, but it's an opportunity for others to step up."

What awaits the Bullets in Adelaide on Sunday is a third opponent in three games to start the season where they will be taking on a team playing their first matches of NBL26 in front of their home fans.

On such occasions the adrenaline is always running high but the Bullets handled that well in Auckland against the Breakers, and settled well in Cairns on Friday.

It will also be a first game for the Sixers for five-time MVP Bryce Cotton after he made the move in the off-season, but Lash is just focused on what the Bullets need to do.

"It's certainly a quick turnaround and as I'm learning going from Cairns to Adelaide is not a common trip in this league but we embrace that challenge," Lash said.

"We play anybody, anywhere, anytime and that's been our mentality ever since I got the job, and there's complaint or excuses. We're professionals and this is what we get paid to do and we'll be ready to play."

GAME INFO

Who: Brisbane Bullets vs Adelaide 36ers

Tip off: 2:30pm (AEST), Sunday September 28, 2025

Where: Adelaide Entertainment Centre

Watch: ESPN via Foxtel, Disney+, Kayo and Fetch