Harrell, Cooks battle "gonna be great"

A potential match-up of the season is on the cards when Adelaide 36ers star Montrezl Harrell and 2023 MVP Xavier Cooks go toe-to-toe tonight at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. 

2001 NBL champion Damon Lowery expects big things from two of the most animated players in the league in what promises to be blockbuster, must-see TV. 

"I don't see anything that's going to be more enthralling than Xavier Cooks in transition," Lowery said on NBL Now. 

"Xavier Cooks, who's gonna guard him? I don't think nobody can guard him. But 'Trez' Harrell, he might think he can do it and there could be some chirping going on out there between them two. 

"Montrezl Harrell is going to try and get physical with him, and somebody's gonna dunk on somebody, and somebody's gonna mean mug somebody. And it's gonna be great."

Lowery says the loaded rosters of both teams sets up a tantalising re-match of the round one battle, where Sydney defeated Adelaide at HoopsFest.  

"This is a heavyweight fight right here," Lowery said. 

"You have Adelaide, who very few predicted top six, except me, I did.

"They've got four studs, DJ (Dejan Vasiljevic), Kendric Davis, Trez Harrell, Ice (Isaac) Humphries - that fifth position, it's a raffle, they're all good.

"The Sydney Kings are an offensive juggernaut. We know that defensively, they can be a problem."

Tip-off between the 36ers and Kings is 7:30pm AEDT tonight, live on ESPN.