'Nick of time': Rakocevic comes up big for 36ers

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Nick Rakocevic was one of five Adelaide 36ers to score in double figures powered the once league leaders back into the winner's circle 87-76 against the inconsistent Melbourne United in Round 20 on NBL26 in Melbourne on Saturday, February 7, 2026.

Import Rakocevic delivered on both ends of the floor finishing with 20 points and 12 rebounds in 26 minutes while Zylan Cheatham (19), Bryce Cotton (17), Isaac Humphries (13) and Flynn Cameron (13) all put up numbers.

"Our journey to be able to play Adelaide 36ers basketball again pleased me the most," Adelaide head coach Mike Wells said.

"We’ve been trying to find that rhythm again for a little while, and that was the team you saw for the majority of the season. We were organised, guys were communicating, and it started on the defensive end.

"I said early in the year that I thought I had the three best bigs in the league, and I still feel that way. They’re very talented.

"One of them had 10 in the fourth and had to hang in there through some fouls, but he kept battling. Z went for 19 and nine.

"Then this guy beside me – what Nick did tonight – he’s been finding a rhythm in his game. I couldn’t be prouder of those guys, especially the bigs. With their size and athleticism, to hang in there and battle the way they did was huge.

"I also think Bryce is a warrior. He gets hand-checked, he gets beat up, he gets jumped on, he’s all over the place, and he just keeps going. That was a real driving force for our team.

"The last thing, just off the top of my head without looking too long at the stat sheet, is seeing Flynn Cameron keep growing.

"It was really important for him to play well here. He didn’t have a great game the last time we were here, but what he did tonight with eight assists and no turnovers, handling that pressure, was big. He’s growing before our eyes.

"I love who he is as a young player, his competitiveness, and his willingness to keep getting better and keep fighting."

It was a crucial win for the slumping 36ers, enduring 10 days of distractions off the floor that included Sydney Kings assistant coach claiming Adelaide bosses met about Wells'

"Coaches are hired to be fired," Wells said.

"That’s the job. I understand the responsibility. If the team doesn’t play well, that’s on me.

"Ninety-nine percent of coaches get fired, and the other one percent just never get another call. That’s what we sign up for, and I wouldn’t trade it. I love it.

"Tonight was our most complete effort in a long time. That’s the most pleasing thing."

The win pushed Adelaide back to the top of the ladder at 22-9 while United have gone from first to fifth at 18-12 after starting the season 9-0.

United star forward Milton Doyle said United needed to keep putting in the work.

"Just get in the gym and work," Doyle said.

"Put the work in, get with the coaches, watch extra film, get clarity on everything we need to do, and keep working so everyone can be their best for the team."

United head coach Dean Vickerman said Melbourne was still searching for the chemistry it had at the start of the season.

"I think it’s the opposite of the first 10 games of the season," Vickerman said.

"Right now, the missed coverages, missed passes, and missed layups are taking energy away from ourselves.

"When the ball was flying around early in the year, we were different. We haven’t got back there yet. The ball isn’t popping like it was earlier.

"I keep looking down and thinking about how we were leading the league in free throws early in the season, and tonight we only get to the line 11 times.

"Early in the year we put people out of position and created fouls. Right now we’re shooting over people or through people instead of getting them on our hip.

"There’s some good process offence where we just miss shots, but there’s also stuff that’s just not moving as quickly as it did earlier in the year."

Key Details

• Round: 20
• Result: Adelaide 36ers 87 def. Melbourne United 76
• When: Saturday, 7th February 2026
• Where: John Cain Arena, Melbourne
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Nick Rakocevic (Adelaide 36ers) starred with 20 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, one steal and two blocks in 26 minutes.
• Milton Doyle (Melbourne United) scored 17 points, and had three rebounds and three assists in 25 minutes.

What Happened

The 36ers established early control and never truly relinquished it, leading for over 31 minutes of the contest compared to Melbourne's five and a half minutes. Despite 14 lead changes throughout the encounter, Adelaide's superior shooting efficiency proved the decisive factor in securing their 11-point triumph.

Adelaide's offensive dominance was evident from the opening tip, with the visitors shooting an outstanding 48.4% from the field compared to Melbourne's disappointing 35.8%. The 36ers' balanced attack featured five players reaching double figures, showcasing the full team effort that overwhelmed the home side's defense.

Nick Rakocevic was simply on fire, converting eight of his nine field goal attempts for an exceptional 88.9% shooting display. His perfect 2-from-2 performance from downtown complemented his dominance in the paint, where he collected 12 boards to anchor Adelaide's rebounding efforts. Zylan Cheatham provided excellent support with 19 points and nine rebounds, shooting an efficient 53.8% from the field.

The free-throw line became another battleground where Adelaide held a significant advantage. The 36ers converted an impressive 17-from-19 attempts at the charity stripe, compared to Melbourne's mediocre 7-from-11 performance. This nine-point differential at the foul line essentially matched the final margin of victory.

Melbourne's offense struggled to find consistent rhythm throughout the contest. Chris Goulding led the scoring with 18 points, including four triples from downtown, but his teammates failed to provide adequate support. The home side's 11-from-38 three-point shooting (28.95%) proved particularly damaging, as they couldn't capitalise on their outside opportunities.

Defensively, Adelaide's rim protection was solid with six blocks compared to Melbourne's zero, limiting the home side's interior scoring chances. The 36ers also controlled the glass, out-rebounding Melbourne 44-40 despite the home court advantage.

The victory demonstrates Adelaide's ability to execute on the road against quality opposition, with their balanced offensive attack and defensive discipline proving too much for Melbourne to handle. The loss continues Melbourne's inconsistent form at their home venue.