'What just happened?!' 36ers' 19-2 run stuns Perth

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Seriously, what just happened!?! Superstar Bryce Cotton admitted he didn't know straight the game and later in the post game press conference.

The 36ers were down 18 points heading into the fourth quarter and have stormed home to beat the Perth Wildcats 95-94 in the "Bryce Cotton return to Perth clash".

"I don't know what just happened to be honest," Cotton said on the floor in the seconds after the win. It was a 19-2 run is what happened.

"But Z (Zylan Cheatham) brought us together at the start of the fourth quarter. He said, 'If we're gonna go down, we're gonna go down swinging'.

"I told him, 'Hell yeah, let's get it', and we clawed out a win.

"(We) just understand that we can't wait until we get punched in the mouth first.

"We have to strike first, especially when playing on the road. Perth is a hell of a team. They do a great job crashing the boards, and yeah, I think that's where it lies."

Cotton sat next to 36ers head coach Mike Wells at the post game press conference still stunned by the freight-train comeback.

“This is at the top of the list," he said.

"I have no memory of the fourth quarter — it was such a blur. I’ll probably go home and just watch that quarter. The first three quarters weren’t pretty. This was the wildest game I’ve ever been part of.

"The cool thing was how many impactful plays different guys made. It wasn’t just one guy — it was everybody on the floor.

"Whitey hits a big three, Flynn gets the game-winning layup, Ice gets a big block, Z makes plays. That’s what it takes to win ball games.

"It felt like the true definition of a team win."

Wells was also in the same boat.

“It’s a little blurry to be honest," he added.

"Once you get down like that you’re just trying to find ways to flip the momentum. We changed some lineups, tried to play faster, and needed to see the ball go through the hoop.

"At some point you’ve got to make threes, make plays, and get a little lucky — and I think all of those things happened.

“We were unwavering in our commitment to try to win. We kept competing and trying to do the right things, as hard as it was out there.

"I couldn’t be more proud of the way we found threes late."

Cotton admitted the pre-game tribute video and celebration of his career in Perth "caught me off guard".

"MVP! MVP! MVP". Those were the chants of the Red Army as both Adelaide and Perth lined up for the pre-game as a video tribute to five-time MVP and three-time NBL champion Cotton played on the big screen above the court.

Any anxiety about Perth fans booing Cotton, 33, in his first game back in Perth were wiped away during the emotional broadcast of Bryce's Wildcats highlight reel.

“It caught me off guard," he said.

"Hearing the cheers and the MVP chants was really gratifying. This was my first time back in over nine months.

"I’ve always said the city of Perth and my old teammates — I’ve got nothing but love for them.

“It was pretty cool to see the love the fans showed.

"It was fun hearing the boos at the free-throw line, and then subtle claps when I scored.

"It was weird in a good way — something I’ve never experienced before. I know it wasn’t the result they wanted, but they definitely got the show they were looking for."

Then it was straight down to business and the Wildcats were all business leading by as many as 21 before going into three-quarter time 78-60 but The 36ers cut the lead to 13 (87-74) with 5:15 to go. Perth's Kristian Doolittle splashed a big three with 5:05 left to make it 90-73.

At 92-76, 36ers head coach Mike Wells was forced into a time out with 4:27 to go.

"Mike Wells has seen enough, his defense is being torn to shreds," NBL commentator Derek Rucker said.

Rucker was right but Adelaide continued to gut it out.

Adelaide cut it to 11 (92-81) with 3:30 to go but a pair of Jo Lual-Acuil Jr free throws pushed it back to 93-81 with the clock now the 36ers enemy.

36ers unicorn Zylan Cheatham came up with a block of the year candidate, stopping David Duke Dr right at the rim, that led to huge Isaac White three-ball to cut it to 93-87 with 1:57 to go.

Then, Bryce Cotton! Wow. He splashed a massive pull-up three out of time to make 94-90 with 50 seconds left. Another stop and a foul on Cotton plus a technical foul on Doolittle put Cotton on the line for three free throws. He splashed all three to make it a one-point ball game (94-93) with 38 seconds left.

Isaac Humphries came up with another block of the season candidate that led to Cotton dishing to Flynn Cameron for the game winning lay-up down the lane.

“Plenty of guys had to make unbelievable plays for us to win, and I couldn’t be happier for Flynn," Well said.

"I recruited him because we needed a young guy to help anchor us. His physicality, his ability to guard, and his competitiveness were huge.

"We even played him as a four late — we hadn’t done that before — and he guarded Doolittle. Massive for us."

Wildcats head coach John Rillie rued the missed opportunities to put the game away.

“We had opportunities to put the game away and we didn’t take them," Rillie said.

"In the fourth quarter they made timely threes to stay in it and give themselves a chance, and we missed some really good looks.”

Perth forward Sunday Dech said it was a tough way to lose the ball game.

“It’s disappointing," he said.

"The raw emotion after the game — you don’t want to lose, especially being up 20. But when we reflect, it’s a big positive. You learn from it.

"This is the kind of situation you face in finals basketball.

“We were disappointed, as we should be. We had a great win against Melbourne on Thursday and expected another one tonight.

"But now our attention goes to Sydney. If you rest on your laurels, the season goes too quickly and you find yourself in a slump."

Dech was happy for Cotton and the recognition he received before tip-off.

“He got his flowers at the beginning,"Dech added.

"He’s done a lot for this club and this city — five-time MVP, championships — you have to respect that.

"But once the game starts, it’s Perth versus the Wildcats, not Wildcats versus Bryce.

“For 35 minutes we played great basketball. We followed the game plan and executed well. Then we fell apart in the last five minutes.

"The coaches keep saying it — we’ve got to put 40 minutes together."

Key Details

• Result: Adelaide 36ers 95 def. Perth Wildcats 94
• When: Saturday, 7th December 2025
• Where: RAC Arena, Perth
• Attendance: 13,661
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Isaac Humphries (Adelaide 36ers) dominated with 28 points, one rebound, one assist, two steals, and three blocks in 27 minutes.
• Jo Lual-Acuil Jr (Perth Wildcats) scored 19 points, and had seven rebounds and two assists in 29 minutes.

What happened

The Adelaide 36ers produced one of the most remarkable comebacks of the NBL season, erasing a 21-point deficit and storming home with a 35–16 fourth quarter to steal a 95–94 win over the Perth Wildcats at RAC Arena. In front of 13,661 fans, Perth controlled most of the afternoon – holding the lead for over 33 minutes – but were stunned late as Adelaide surged past them in the final seconds.

Perth’s Fast Start, Adelaide’s Late Explosion

The Wildcats looked dominant early, winning each of the first three quarters behind efficient scoring from Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. and Kristian Doolittle. Perth hit 50.7% from the field and piled up 41 rebounds, repeatedly punishing Adelaide inside. Their biggest lead reached 21 points, and they appeared in complete control entering the fourth.

But Adelaide flipped the game on its head. The 36ers unleashed a 35-point final period, turning defensive stops into transition opportunities and finally breaking Perth’s interior hold. Bryce Cotton orchestrated the offense with 12 assists, while Isaac Humphries’ inside scoring kept Adelaide within striking distance before the decisive run.

Adelaide’s Stars Deliver

• Isaac Humphries was unstoppable, scoring 28 points on 13-of-15 shooting and anchoring the comeback with timely baskets in the paint.
• Bryce Cotton, returning to Perth, delivered a brilliant 21 points and 12 assists, controlling tempo and creating repeatedly for teammates.
• Zylan Cheatham added 20 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists, a complete two-way performance that helped Adelaide overwhelm Perth late.
• Flynn Cameron also contributed a valuable 8 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists.

Adelaide shot 54.3% from the field and moved the ball superbly with 30 assists on 38 made baskets.

Perth’s Top Performers

• Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. shot an ultra-efficient 8-for-10 for 19 points.
• Kristian Doolittle posted a massive 17-point, 11-rebound double-double, also handing out 6 assists.
• David Duke Jr. (13 points) and Dylan Windler (12 points) provided perimeter scoring, but Perth’s offense stalled under Adelaide’s fourth-quarter pressure.

The Wildcats scored just 16 points in the fourth, struggling to regain momentum after Adelaide’s run.

Key Numbers

• Time in Lead: Perth 33:33 – Adelaide 3:17
• Biggest Lead: Perth +21 — Adelaide +4
• Rebounds: Perth 41 – Adelaide 30
• Assists: Adelaide 30 – Perth 17
• Fourth Quarter: Adelaide 35 – Perth 16

Perth dominated most of the contest with strong interior play and balanced scoring, but Adelaide’s extraordinary fourth-quarter surge completely flipped the game. Led by Humphries, Cotton and Cheatham, the 36ers produced a comeback for the ages, stunning the Wildcats and silencing RAC Arena in the final seconds.