Nothin' but Cotton: 36ers hold home court in semis

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The bigger the stage, the bigger six-time MVP Bryce Cotton's performances get.

Cotton led the Adelaide 36ers to a 1-0 series lead in their semi-finals clash with the South East Melbourne Phoenix with 42 points in their 104-97 victory at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

In his playoff debut for the 36ers, the former Perth Wildcats star went 17-from-25 from the field and 6-from-11 from the three-point line to add another vintage outing to his long list of playoff performances throughout his NBL career.

"That's what great players do, he's done it all the time, we're fortunate he's doing it in a blue uniform.," Adelaide coach Mike Wells said in the post-game press conference.

"He led us the entire time on both ends of the floor... he was outstanding but we had a group effort."

Cotton said he was just in a "flow state".

"I really wasnt worried about whether I was on or not, I just wanted to make sure my intent was right, making sure I made the right reads and not second guessing anything I did whether it was a good play or bad play," he said.

"It was just wanting to win, it led me to play and take whatever the defence gave me but as Mike said it was a collective effort."

Cotton also gave a special shoutout to his"unsung hero" of the game in defensive-minded reserve Matt Kenyon.

"Big shoutout to Kenny, some of the things he did defensively, the way he changes the game, I told him some of his defensive stops and steals and deflections led to transition points for us," he said.

"He's a guy that was probably the unsung hero for me tonight."

Game two is at John Cain Arena on Saturday.

Match Report

Adelaide 36ers defeated South East Melbourne Phoenix 104-97 at Adelaide Entertainment Centre with Bryce Cotton's 42 points powering the dominant display.

Key Details

• Result: Adelaide 36ers 104 def. South East Melbourne Phoenix 97
• When: Monday, March 10 2026
• Where: Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide
• Attendance: 10,055
• Standings: View NBL Standings

By the Numbers

• Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers) starred with 42 points, three rebounds, five assists, and three steals in 39 minutes.
• Nathan Sobey (South East Melbourne Phoenix) scored 23 points, and had 10 rebounds, seven assists, two steals in 36 minutes.

What Happened

The Adelaide 36ers secured a thrilling seven-point victory against South East Melbourne Phoenix in front of 10,055 fans at Adelaide Entertainment Centre, with Bryce Cotton delivering an exceptional 42-point performance that proved decisive in game one of the semi-finals series.

The contest featured 17 lead changes throughout the evening, showcasing the competitive nature of both sides as they traded baskets in an entertaining encounter.

Adelaide established early momentum with a balanced 25-27 first quarter, before extending their advantage through the second period with another 25 points while holding Phoenix to 21. The 36ers maintained their rhythm in the third quarter, matching Phoenix's 27 points to preserve their lead heading into the final period. The fourth quarter saw Adelaide close out the contest with 27 points to Phoenix's 22, securing the hard-fought victory.

Cotton was simply outstanding from the field, shooting an impressive 17-from-25 (68%) including a stellar 6-from-11 from downtown. His efficiency was remarkable as he dominated proceedings with his scoring ability, while also contributing five dimes and three steals in a complete performance. The veteran guard's 42-point explosion was the cornerstone of Adelaide's offensive success, as he consistently found ways to score against Phoenix's defense.

Supporting Cotton's heroics, Dejan Vasiljevic added 17 points on efficient 4-from-8 shooting, including 3-from-7 from deep and a perfect 6-from-6 from the charity stripe. Nick Rakocevic contributed 14 points and 10 boards, while Zylan Cheatham chipped in with 13 points, nine rebounds, and five assists.

For Phoenix, Nathan Sobey led the way with 23 points despite struggling with his shot selection, going 9-from-27 from the field and 2-from-11 from beyond the arc. Jordan Hunter (14 points), Angus Glover (14 points), and Ian Clark (12 points) provided valuable contributions, but it wasn't enough to overcome Adelaide's offensive firepower.

The 36ers' superior shooting proved to be the difference, as they shot an outstanding 56.9% from the field compared to Phoenix's poor 40%. Adelaide's three-point shooting was solid at 39.13% (9-from-23), while Phoenix struggled from downtown with a disappointing 27.9% (12-from-43).

The home side also dominated the paint with Nick Rakocevic's presence, out-rebounding Phoenix 39-43 despite the visitors' slight advantage.

Adelaide's ability to control the tempo and execute in crucial moments, combined with Cotton's explosive performance, secured the victory and demonstrated their offensive capabilities against a determined Phoenix outfit.