Cotton rises above (coach's) challenges to lead 36ers

• 2025-26 NBL Team Lists and Roster Tracker
• How to watch every NBL game in the 2025-26 season
• Interactive and live NBL Scores and Schedule here

Adelaide escaped — there is no other way to describe it.

Five-time MVP Bryce Cotton scored 42 points on 14-of-26 shooting (7-of-17 from three), including a three-point dagger with 18 seconds left to put the Sixers up 90-84 against the New Zealand Breakers.

The 36ers came back from 18 down to win the NBL26 Round 21 clash 92-89 in Adelaide.

But two successful Adelaide head coach Mike Wells' coaching challenges would leave Breakers head coach Petteri Koponen rightly feeling aggrieved, despite Scott Butler’s explanation to the commentary team.

A successful — but highly surprising — coach's challenge on a called block in the restricted area by Zylan Cheatham after back-to-back near four-point plays put Adelaide right back into it.

36ers captain Dejan Vasiljevic knocked down a four-point play after getting fouled rising up on the wing, and Bryce Cotton knocked down a three from the top of the key, fouled by Tai Webster, but he missed the free throw.

It was a turning point.

The Breakers would have earned a pair of free throws, but instead Parker Jackson-Cartwright turned the ball over on the next possession, and Cheatham laid it in.

In the clutch, Wells again challenged a fouled three-point shot that was ruled a kick-out with the Breakers down 87-84.

Key Details

• Result: Adelaide 36ers 92 def. New Zealand Breakers 89
• When: Saturday, 14th February 2026
• Where: Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide
• Attendance: 10,044
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers) detonated with 42 points, four rebounds and four assists in 40 minutes.
• Parker Jackson-Cartwright (New Zealand Breakers) had 25 points, three boards, seven assists and two steals in 34 minutes.

What Happened

The New Zealand Breakers controlled the majority of proceedings, leading for over 36 minutes of game time, compared to Adelaide's brief 1 minute and 47 seconds. However, the 36ers saved their best for last, delivering a stunning fourth-quarter performance that turned a potential defeat into a memorable three-point victory.

New Zealand established an early advantage, outscoring Adelaide 29-16 in the opening period. The Breakers maintained their momentum through the second quarter, taking a 50-39 lead into the halftime break. Their largest lead stretched to 18 points, seemingly putting them in control of the contest.

The third quarter saw Adelaide begin their fightback, outscoring the visitors 20-21, but still trailed 71-59 heading into the final period. What followed was nothing short of spectacular from the home side, who exploded for 33 points in the fourth quarter while restricting New Zealand to just 18 points to complete one of the season's most remarkable comebacks.

Bryce Cotton was simply outstanding throughout the contest, shooting an efficient 14-from-26 from the field, including an impressive 7-from-16 from downtown. His 42-point haul was complemented by solid contributions from Zylan Cheatham, who recorded 12 points and 12 boards for a double-double, and Dejan Vasiljevic, who added 19 points on 5-for-12 shooting. The 36ers shot a solid 47% from the field and connected on 13 triples, with Cotton's perimeter shooting proving decisive.

For the Breakers, Parker Jackson-Cartwright led the scoring with 25 points and seven dimes, while Izaiah Brockington contributed 19 points and four assists. Robert Loe was exceptional from beyond the arc, draining 4-from-5 threes on his way to 14 points. Despite shooting an impressive 52% from the field and 40% from three-point range, the Breakers couldn't withstand Adelaide's fourth-quarter surge. The visitors' inability to maintain their defensive intensity in the final period ultimately cost them what appeared to be a comfortable victory.