16-4: 36ers' Merry Christmas to Adelaide fans

• Adelaide improves to 16–4 with commanding Round 14 home victory
• Bryce Cotton posts 22 points and 11 assists on Christmas Eve
• Nick Rakocevic dominates inside with 19 points, 13 rebounds

Merry Christmas Adelaide 36ers fans.

The 36ers are now 16-4 and rock solid at the top of the ladder after rolling the Cairns Taipans 93-73 at Adelaide Entertainment Centre in front of 10,006 fans in the first game of Round 14 of NBL26 on Wednesday, December 24, 2025.

MVP front-runner Bryce Cotton's 22-point, 11-assist double-double powered the hosts to a convincing 20-point victory on Christmas Eve.

The 36ers led by just eight at the main break but asserted control in the second half, holding Cairns to 31 points across the final two quarters. Adelaide’s defence tightened the screws on the perimeter, forcing tough shots and limiting the Taipans to 40.0% shooting and 30.3% from three.

For Cairns, Sam Waardenburg (19 points) and Andrew Andrews (15 points, 6 assists) were the main contributors, but support was limited. Jack McVeigh struggled to find rhythm (4-of-14 FG), and the Taipans were consistently beaten on the glass (45–39) and in points in the paint as Adelaide built a 22-point largest lead.

The 36ers spent over 32 minutes in front, controlling tempo and finishing with authority, while Cairns were left chasing the game after a flat fourth quarter where they managed just 12 points.

Key Details

• NBL Box Score: Adelaide 36ers 93 def. Cairns Taipans 73
• When: Tuesday, 24th December 2025
• Where: Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers) starred with 22 points, six rebounds and 11 assists in 38 minutes.
• Sam Waardenburg (Cairns Taipans) scored 19 points and had five rebounds and four assists in 29 minutes.

What Happened

The 36ers established early control and never relinquished their grip on proceedings, building a methodical advantage throughout the contest. Adelaide edged the opening quarter 23-21 before extending their buffer with a dominant second period, outscoring Cairns 27-21 to lead 50-42 at the main break. The hosts maintained their intensity after halftime, winning the third quarter 23-19 to stretch their advantage to 73-61 entering the final period.

Adelaide's superiority became evident in the fourth quarter as they closed out the contest emphatically. The 36ers limited Cairns to just 12 points in the final frame while adding 20 of their own, completing a comprehensive 20-point victory. The margin peaked at 22 points as Adelaide's balanced offensive attack proved too much for the visiting Taipans.

Cotton orchestrated the 36ers' offensive flow masterfully, distributing 11 assists while contributing 22 points of his own. His ability to create opportunities for teammates was instrumental in Adelaide's success, as the hosts recorded 24 assists compared to Cairns' 19. Nick Rakocevic dominated the paint with an outstanding 19-point, 13-rebound double-double, shooting an efficient 8-from-12 from the field. Dejan Vasiljevic added valuable scoring punch off the bench with 15 points on 6-from-10 shooting, including three triples from seven attempts.

Adelaide's superior shooting efficiency proved decisive in securing the comfortable victory. The 36ers connected on 46.05% of their field goal attempts and shot a solid 37.04% from beyond the arc, making 10 three-pointers. In contrast, Cairns struggled from the field at 40% and managed just 30.3% from downtown. The Taipans' poor shooting from deep, connecting on only 10-from-33 attempts, severely hampered their offensive rhythm throughout the contest.

The 36ers controlled the boards with 45 rebounds compared to Cairns' 39, with Rakocevic leading the charge alongside Flynn Cameron who added eight boards. Adelaide also took better care of the basketball, committing just nine turnovers while forcing 13 from their opponents. For Cairns, Andrews provided a steady 15 points and six assists, while Waardenburg's 19 points kept the Taipans competitive early before Adelaide's depth took over.