Every move matters as heavyweights collide

Friday's blockbuster between the Adelaide 36ers and Sydney Kings has all the makings of an absolute classic.

Adelaide currently sit in first on the ladder, with an impressive 17-4 record, thanks to the strong play of five-time MVP Bryce Cotton, Zylan Cheatham and Isaac Humphries.

The Kings, meanwhile, are in fourth with a 13-7 record, but come into the Round 15 fixture on a six game winning streak.

One of those wins in that streak came in overtime against Adelaide in Canberra, marking the second time Brian Goorjian's side have beaten the Sixers during the Hungry Jack's NBL26 campaign.

With all this in mind, as well as the storyline of Kings star Kendric Davis coming up against his former side, 2009 NBL champion Mark Worthington can't wait for the clash.

"Sydney are the hottest team [in the league] since the FIBA Break, really cementing themselves as a premier team in this season [alongside the 36ers]," Worthington said on Friday's NBL Now.

"Even though we saw this game only a couple of weeks ago in Canberra, both of these teams are playing really good basketball at the moment, so I can see this is going to be a game of chess [between the two rivals].

"You always back in Brian Goorjian against any coach in this competition, because of how he does it and the investment in his players, which he spoke about [in a recent post-game press conference].

"[Before this win streak] you saw flashes of brilliance, so it's been a joy to watch it all come together the past few rounds, as players' roles became more defined.

"Goorj is getting the best out of his players right [and it'll be exciting to see how they go once again against Adelaide]."

Another element that two-time Olympian Worthington is looking forward to at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre is the cat and mouse game between three-time champion Bryce Cotton and one of the competition's top on ball defenders, Bul Kuol.

Across the two previous matchups, Kuol has restricted Cotton to just 16 points a game, well below his league-leading season average of 26.3.

"Bryce will be more aggressive offensively [on Friday], but that's easier said than done versus a Bul Kuol, because of his great length and great physicality," Worthington said.

"He [Kuol] has found his groove in the last couple of rounds, limiting the silly fouls that he gives up, the court.

"Bryce, being the ultra competitor he is, is the one guy in the league that will probably look at this and go, I can do something about this personally.

"The one thing about the Kings team is even though Bul Kuol does a lot of the singular matchups, they do play a very well branded team defence around it.

"Bryce will, as he normally does, pick his spots and facilitate early in the game. But once he gets going, it'll be a bit of an avalanche and especially playing in Adelaide. I would expect him to have a huge game."

Friday's blockbuster tips off at 7.30pm AEDT, live on ESPN.