'Swiss Army Knife': Zylan delivers in clutch

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Zylan Cheatham knocked down two clutch free throws with 14 seconds left and they were enough as the Adelaide 36ers escaped with a 83-79 road win against the New Zealand Breakers in Round 8 of NBL26 on Thursday, November 6, 2025 in New Zealand.

The 36ers were up 78-70 with 2:22 to go but crucial turnovers by Flynn Cameron and Bryce Cotton sparked an 8-3 run (81-78) before Cheatham was fouled by Izayah Le'Afa.

"He’s unique — size, athleticism, commitment to being a pro," 36ers head coach Mike Wells said.

"He can guard one through five and loves the challenge. Sometimes in practice he wants to play small and guard the ball — we have to say, 'Hold on'.

"He’s a Swiss-army knife on defence, with an elite will. Unbelievable human and professional. At the end he’s going to get rebounds and compete.

"I love his professionalism — even better person."

Cheatham finished with 13 points, eight rebounds, three assists and 6-of-8 from the free throw line in 32 minutes. Cotton led the Sixers with 23 points, after going scoreless in the first quarter as four Adelaide players scored in double figures: Cotton (23); Cheatham (13); Flynn Cameron (13) and Isaac White (12).

36ers guard Isaac White was given the task of slowing down Breakers star Parker-Jackson Cartwright, who finished with 25 points on 9-from-17 from the field, 10 assists and five rebounds in 33 minutes.

"Feel good," White said.

"A little calf cramp hit me with about a minute to go — that’s probably my threshold. I’ve had a couple of games guarding Parker in spurts — got a lot of respect for him.

"I had a bit of confidence coming in from previous reps. I usually do a reasonable job; he usually makes tough shots on me.

"I’m glad I could do my assignment tonight — that results in minutes, which is great."

Wells was more complimentary: "What he’s done for us — he’s elite at coming to practice every day, ready to get better. You’ve seen his performance improve daily in practice — and game by game.

"Tonight was an interesting matchup — we ran him out there and left him out there. I’m kind of glad he got a little calf cramp — that’s a good thing.

"He almost acts invincible at times, running through everything. Huge minutes for the team.

"Flynn had some foul issues that slowed him; next-man-up mentality. We started a different lineup to start the second half.

Those minutes to start the third — and the second-half effort — are what we want to see. Defense travels.

When you look down the box score and see White +16, that means he did a few things right."

The 36ers moved to 7-2 to stay third on the ladder while the Breakers fell to ninth at 3-8.

Key Details

• Result: Adelaide 36ers 83 def. New Zealand Breakers 79
• When: 6th November 2025
• Where: Wolfbrook Arena, New Zealand
• Attendance: 3,859
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers) starred with 23 points, one rebound, six assists, and two steals in 38 minutes.
• Izaiah Brockington (New Zealand Breakers) scored 25 points, had two rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block in 31 minutes.

What Happened

The Adelaide 36ers took control early, leading 22-14 at the end of the first quarter behind strong play from Flynn Cameron and Bryce Cotton. New Zealand responded emphatically in the second period, outscoring Adelaide 33-21 to take a 47-43 halftime lead, with Parker Jackson-Cartwright orchestrating the offense.

The third quarter remained competitive with both teams trading baskets. Adelaide reclaimed momentum, winning the period 23-21 as Cotton connected on two crucial three-pointers. The Breakers struggled in the final quarter, managing just 11 points as Adelaide's defence tightened to secure the four-point victory.

This contest featured an extraordinary 30 lead changes, highlighting the back-and-forth nature of the battle. Adelaide's biggest lead reached 10 points, while New Zealand's topped out at seven. The 36ers put together a 10-0 scoring run at one point that proved decisive in the outcome.

Cotton led all Adelaide scorers with an efficient 23 points including four three-pointers from 11 attempts. The 36ers captain received solid support from Zylan Cheatham and Flynn Cameron who contributed 13 points each. Cameron added eight rebounds while Cheatham showcased his all-around game with eight boards, three assists, and two steals.

For New Zealand, Brockington's 25 points came on outstanding 9-from-15 shooting including 3-from-6 from beyond the arc. Jackson-Cartwright delivered a solid all-around performance with 21 points, five rebounds, 10 assists, and three steals, but his four turnovers proved costly.

The free throw line played a crucial role in deciding the outcome, with Adelaide attempting 26 shots from the charity stripe compared to New Zealand's 19. The 36ers converted 18 free throws while the Breakers managed 13, providing Adelaide a five-point advantage in a game decided by four points.

Despite New Zealand's slight edge in field goal percentage (42.9% to 41.2%) and rebounding (44-40), Adelaide's superior three-point shooting (33.3% compared to 23.1%) and ability to get to the free throw line ultimately made the difference in this tightly contested affair.