Cotton, 36ers win ugly as Brisbane shows grit

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New import Hunter Maldonado has immediately made the Brisbane Bullets better but they just didn't have enough - 97-86 - against the league-leading Adelaide 36ers in Round 15 of NBL26 in Brisbane on Sunday, January 4, 2025.

Maldonado finally suited up after his visa cleared post his exit from South East Melbourne Phoenix and immediately gave interim head coach Darryl McDonald a much needed second ball handler alongside Mitch Norton.

The Bullets dropped 6-18 while the 19-4 36ers pushed further ahead of the second-placed Phoenix at 14-11. It's the most wins for the Sixers in a single season in two decades.

In the end it was 11 points but the Bullets were so much tougher than they have been all season.

Five-time MVP Bryce Cotton took a while to get going but the star guard finished with 23 points, four boards and seven assists while Maldonado dropped 16 points, dished out nine assists and two steals.

Key Details

• Result: Adelaide 36ers 97 def. Brisbane Bullets 86
• When: Sunday, 4th January 2026
• Where: Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers) starred with 23 points, four rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and one block in 38 minutes.
• Alex Ducas (Brisbane Bullets) scored 18 points, three rebounds, and one steal in 32 minutes.

What Happened

The 36ers established early control through exceptional three-point shooting, connecting on 11-from-23 attempts from downtown compared to Brisbane's dismal five-from-25 performance. Adelaide's 47.83% accuracy from beyond the arc proved decisive against the Bullets' poor 20% conversion rate.

Bryce Cotton orchestrated Adelaide's offensive flow with precision, shooting an efficient 7-from-13 from the field including an outstanding 5-from-6 from three-point range. His leadership in the backcourt, combined with seven assists, kept the 36ers' attack flowing throughout the contest. Flynn Cameron provided excellent support with 18 points on 50% shooting, including three triples, whilst Isaac Humphries dominated inside with 16 points on an impressive 8-from-10 shooting display.

Zylan Cheatham delivered a masterful all-round performance for Adelaide, recording 17 points, eight rebounds, and 10 assists for a near triple-double. His ability to facilitate from the frontcourt position created numerous scoring opportunities, particularly in transition. The veteran forward was on fire from the charity stripe, converting 11-from-14 free throws while drawing seven fouls to create additional scoring chances.

Brisbane's resistance came primarily through Alex Ducas and Terry Taylor, who each contributed 18 points, but their efforts couldn't overcome Adelaide's superior shooting efficiency. Hunter Maldonado provided a spark with 16 points and nine assists, creating opportunities for his teammates despite the team's struggles from deep. Jacob Holt was efficient inside with 15 points on 6-from-10 shooting and eight boards, but the Bullets lacked the consistent three-point threat needed to match Adelaide's offensive firepower.

The 36ers controlled the paint battle, outrebounding Brisbane 42-31 while limiting second-chance opportunities. Their defensive pressure forced nine Brisbane turnovers while committing 13 themselves, but Adelaide's superior shooting percentage from the field (49.15% to 44.44%) and dominant three-point display negated any turnover disadvantage. The visitors also excelled from the foul line, converting 28-from-36 attempts compared to Brisbane's 17-from-21, capitalising on their aggressive attacking style.