Cotton’s 42 puts 36ers 1-0 up over Phoenix in NBL semis | ‘People have taken swings at us’: C…

Explore the latest developments concerning Cotton's 42 puts.

Cotton's 42 puts 36ers 1-0 up over Phoenix in NBL semis

You have reached ESPN's Australian edition. Stay on current site or go to US version.

The great Bryce Cotton poured in 42 points to put the Adelaide 36ers within one win of their first NBL grand final since 2018 with a 104-97 victory over South East Melbourne Phoenix.

Fresh from collecting his sixth league MVP award, Cotton felt he was "in a flow state" as he hit 17-of-25 from the field – including 6-of-11 from three-point range – in front of a record Adelaide Entertainment Crowd of 10,055 on Tuesday night.

Captain Dejan Vasiljevic added 17 points off the bench as the Sixers took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three semi-final play-off series.

‘People have taken swings at us’: Coach’s defiant one-man team message after MVP’s masterclass

Adelaide 36ers head coach Mike Wells praised star guard Bryce Cotton after his 42-point performance powered the 36ers to a 104–97 Game One semi-final win over the South East Melbourne Phoenix, but insisted the defining victory was far from a one-man show, with the entire team playing a key role in the result.

Watch live coverage of the NBL Finals with ESPN on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.

Adelaide secured their first semi-final victory since 2018 in front of 10,055 fans at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre last night. The 36ers now turn their focus to Saturday’s Game Two at John Cain Arena, where a win would send them through to the NBL Final series.

King: Phoenix did the work, couldn’t convert

Usually the team that loses Game 1 is the one searching for answers. For South East Melbourne, though, the issue wasn’t effort or execution. It was simply making shots.

The Phoenix did much of what coach Josh King demands in Tuesday night’s Playoff opener in Adelaide. They just couldn’t capitalise on their opportunities as they now return home for a do-or-die Game 2.

Before the game, King would have happily accepted the numbers his team produced. South East Melbourne attempted 13 more field goals, earned four more free throws, grabbed 21 offensive rebounds and committed just six turnovers.

Those are the types of possession stats that usually lead to wins.

For more detailed information, explore updates concerning Cotton's 42 puts.

For more news…