NBL's Rakocevic wants haters to keep booing him

Adelaide 36ers import Nick Rakocevic wants rival NBL crowds to continue booing him following a hostile play-offs reception in Melbourne.

But for the big man to get his wish this season, the Sixers must beat South East Melbourne in Tuesday's game-three decider and make a first championship series in eight years.

Rakocevic was accused of "playing dirty" by Phoenix owner Romie Chaudhari following a shot on Akech Aliir in Adelaide's game-one win last week.

The 28-year-old received an unsportsmanlike foul, but the animosity lingered into game two on Saturday, when the Melbourne crowd booed Rakocevic as he checked into the game.

The booing continued before the Phoenix came from 18 points down and levelled the series with their 101-92 victory.

"I'm used to that. I've gotten that my whole life," the American-Serbian centre said of the crowd's behaviour.

"That's just people who either doubt or have something against me. That just goes to my roots and gives me personal energy to prove people wrong."

Rakocevic overcame the negative attention to put up his third double-double in five games.

"I invite all the boos and all the hatred that the crowd shows. It just makes me play better," he said.

But there'll be no more hostile away crowds for Rakocevic without a game-three victory in Adelaide.

The winner of Tuesday's clash advances to a best-of-five championship series against Sydney, while the loser's dreams of NBL glory will be dashed.

A championship series berth would be vindication for the Sixers, who abruptly fired coach Scott Ninnis in the 2024/25 pre-season and installed Mike Wells as his successor.

The Sixers have since made the post-season in both campaigns under Wells, having missed out for the six before his arrival.

"We had a goal at the beginning of the season, which was to compete for a championship and to win a championship," Rakocevic said.

"Knowing that we're one game away from being there, it means a lot to everybody."

Top of the Sixers' to-do list for Tuesday will be neutralising Olympic bronze medallist Nathan Sobey, who put up 41 points on Saturday.

"We need to make him uncomfortable," Rakocevic said.

"We need to be more aggressive on him. We can't let him get out on the open floor, because that's what he likes to do."