'Jordan-like impact': Cotton is a scoring machine

• Bryce Cotton explodes in third quarter to help Perth take control
• Adelaide faces Sydney in single-game elimination on February 11, 2025
• 13,559 show up to see their home town heroes

Bryce Cotton eliminated any doubt he's the NBL25 MVP, pouring in 49 points to lead the Perth Wildcats to a tough 112-104 victory (Game Centre) against the Adelaide 36ers at RAC Arena in Perth on Friday, February 7, 2025

The electrifying performance, potentially Cotton's last on his home court, kept Perth's hopes for a top-two finish alive and sent the capacity crowd of 13,559 into raptures.

Cotton's masterclass unfolded against the backdrop of a fiercely contested match, with Adelaide storming out to an early lead behind the dominant interior presence of former NBA Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell.

The 36ers, fighting to build momentum heading into the play-in tournament, held an 11-point advantage early in the third quarter before Cotton took control.

The Wildcats' superstar guard caught fire in the final period, knocking down three crucial three-pointers and showcasing his relentless hustle with a pivotal offensive rebound and layup.

Cotton's heroics spearheaded a decisive run that turned the tide in Perth's favour, as they outscored Adelaide 27-13 to close the third quarter.

The statistics tell the tale of Cotton's extraordinary night. He finished an efficient 9-from-18 from beyond the arc and a near-perfect 10-of-11 from the free-throw line. His 49 points were complemented by seven assists, further cementing his status as one of the NBL's premier playmakers.

Wildcats coach John Rillie could only marvel at Cotton's performance.

"Coaches, when someone gets in a zone like that, you need to stay out of the way," Rillie said.

"So when I feel that and the way he's playing, I just sit there and watch and admire because there's only so many chances and opportunities you get to see someone perform at that level."

While Cotton stole the headlines, he received crucial support from his teammates. Keanu Pinder notched a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Dylan Windler contributed 15 points and 12 boards. Kristian Doolittle filled the stat sheet with 14 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds.

For Adelaide, the loss was a bitter pill to swallow despite strong individual performances.

Kendric Davis led the 36ers with 34 points and eight assists, while Harrell added 24 points and six rebounds before fouling out late in the fourth quarter.

Adelaide coach Mike Wells drew comparisons between Cotton's impact and that of NBA legend Michael Jordan, a testament to the Wildcats guard's brilliance.

"I'm probably the only guy who has been in games as a coach against Michael Jordan and Bryce, in a lot of ways, with the way he plays and the things he can do, and how he turns it on is really unique," he said.

"I have tonnes of respect for him and hats off to him but on the back end of that, hats off to my guys because we were battling the whole way."

The victory improves Perth's record to 18-11, guaranteeing them at least a third-place finish. They now await the result of Melbourne United's clash with South East Melbourne Phoenix to determine their final playoff seeding. Should they remain in third, the Wildcats will host the Phoenix in an elimination final on Tuesday, though the match will be played at the smaller Perth High Performance Centre due to RAC Arena's unavailability.

As for Adelaide, they finish the regular season in sixth place with a 13-16 record.

Despite the loss, the 36ers will take confidence from their competitive showing as they prepare for a do-or-die play-in game against the Sydney Kings next week.

Having already notched two victories in Sydney this season, Adelaide will fancy their chances of springing an upset and extending their campaign.