Wells: 'That felt like Finals'

His team may have lost one of the games of the season on Sunday, but Adelaide coach Mike Wells thoroughly enjoyed the playoff atmosphere of the contest.

Both Adelaide and eventual winners Melbourne had chances to secure the victory at John Cain Arena, before a Tyson Walker triple secured United their ninth straight win to open the Hungry Jack's NBL26 season.

While reflecting on the defeat, Wells says his team learnt plenty from the result.

"I thought you saw Playoff basketball out there today," he said in the post-game press conference.

"I thought you saw two really good teams kind of figuring it out and throwing a lot of punches at each other basketball wise.

"Both sides were trying to figure out where the strengths and where the weaknesses were of both teams.

"I thought you saw some outstanding efforts.

"Us being able to handle the physicality of a Playoff team being at home, fight through that, keep playing and have it down to a one possession game is nothing but a huge positive for us and where we want to be.

"We are trying to rebuild the whole brand of the Adelaide 36ers. We lost one today, but we will see them again."

Apart from obvious candidate Bryce Cotton, who finished the match with 22 points and 6 assists, Wells was particularly impressed by forward Zylan Cheatham, comparing him to a four-time NBA champion.

"We have been trying to figure out our offence still, and it is a growing game by game, but Z has been ballin so far," Wells said.

"It was great to see him have the kind of success he has had this season.

"He plays differently to anybody else, he is probably a bit like Draymond [Green] being just one assist off a triple double, tallying 21 points, 12 rebounds and 9 assists on Sunday.

"He has been outstanding this year and our offence is much more efficient when he is playing well."

The 5-2 36ers now return home for a Round 7 clash with Illawarra at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, tipping off at 4.30pm AEDT on Sunday, live on ESPN and 10 DRAMA.