Cotton stars as 36ers smash Taipans by 31 points

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Bryce Cotton's scored 28 points as the unbeaten Adelaide 36ers hammered the Cairns Taipans by 31 points in Cairns.

Cotton's stellar 28-point masterclass led the visitors to a commanding 110-79 road win in front of 4,213 fans.

The 36ers are 2-0 while the Taipans dropped to 2-2.

Key Details

• Result: Adelaide 36ers 110 def. Cairns Taipans 79
• When: 2nd October 2025
• Where: Cairns Convention Centre, Cairns
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Bryce Cotton (Adelaide) starred with 28 points, three rebounds, seven assists, and five steals in 35 minutes.
• Admiral Schofield (Cairns) scored 19 points and had four rebounds in 29 minutes.

What Happened

The Adelaide 36ers established dominance early, racing to a 36-23 first-quarter lead. They maintained control throughout the second period, extending their advantage to 58-38 by halftime. The Taipans never recovered from this 20-point deficit as Adelaide continued their impressive offensive display.

The visitors dominated the third quarter 27-22, stretching their lead to 25 points heading into the final period. Any hopes of a Taipans comeback were quickly extinguished as Adelaide closed out the game with a clinical 25-19 fourth quarter to secure the comprehensive 31-point victory.

Cotton's impact was felt throughout the contest, with the star guard shooting an outstanding 11-from-18 from the field, including 4-from-8 from beyond the arc. His five steals highlighted his two-way contribution as Adelaide controlled both ends of the court.

The 36ers' balanced attack saw four players score in double figures. Flynn Cameron contributed 20 points on efficient 5-from-10 shooting, including 4-from-8 from downtown. Isaac Humphries added 19 points and six rebounds, while Dejan Vasiljevic matched him with 19 points, including four triples.

Adelaide's superior shooting proved decisive, connecting at 49.4% from the field compared to Cairns' 45.3%. The visitors were particularly effective from three-point range, hitting 12-from-32 (37.5%) while holding the Taipans to just 7-from-27 (25.9%). The 36ers also dominated the turnover battle, forcing 15 Taipans mistakes while committing just six of their own, leading to crucial transition opportunities.

For Cairns, Marcus Lee provided a bright spot with 18 points on 8-from-10 shooting and seven rebounds, while Jack McVeigh contributed nine points and eight boards. However, the Taipans struggled to contain Adelaide's perimeter threats and couldn't match their offensive firepower.

The victory highlighted Adelaide's growing momentum as they continue their push up the NBL standings, while Cairns will need to regroup quickly after this disappointing home defeat.