Resurgent Adelaide 36ers’ NBL title hopes are alive and kicking after a stunning Bryce Cotton buzzer beater propelled the Sixers to a breathtaking 91-89 victory against Sydney Kings to level the Championship Series at one win apiece.
Scores were tied after a crucial late defensive stop by the home side and with the seconds ticking down, Cotton raced up the floor and scored the matchwinning bucket as time expired.
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The home fans at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre had been loud throughout but reached fever pitch with the dramatic finish.
Cotton led the way with a game-high 28 points and had plenty to say to arch rival Kendric Davis after his game-winner, with the pair separated by teammates.
A clearly incensed Davis repeatedly clapped, then held up three fingers with his thumb and index finger circled as he yelled in Cotton’s face.
Watch the fiery confrontation in the video above
Davis led the Kings with 20 points and his side led by as much as 14 points in the third quarter, but scores were level with just over four minutes remaining in the epic struggle.
Sydney edged ahead, but Cotton tied it up with a minute left with two free throws after a foul by Davis that led to heated words between the two, with Cotton having the last laugh on this occasion.
The series continues on Sunday in Sydney at Qudos Bank Arena, with Game 4 in Adelaide on Wednesday 1 April.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Kings thrashed the 36ers by a record 44 points in the opening game of the Championship Series in Sydney, but Mike Wells’ men were a different proposition in front of their deafeningly loud home fans.
Adelaide led by a point at halftime, but the Kings put a gap on the 36ers with a withering 16-5 run to open the third quarter.
The home side did well to regroup and slow Sydney’s momentum, but went into the final term down nine points.
With Cotton warming to the task, Adelaide trimmed the deficit to one point just over four minutes into the pulsating final term.
HOSTILITIES RENEWED
After helping restrict Cotton to 10 points in Game 1, Matthew Dellavedova renewed hostilities with the superstar shooter.
With Dellavedova never far from his side, Cotton committed two turnovers and didn’t take a shot until five minutes into the opening term.
The Sixers trailed by six points when Torrey Craig nailed a triple with four minutes remaining in the first quarter, but John Jenkins hit a three-pointer in a sizzling 10-0 run that saw the home side hit the front.
Brian Goorjian’s men were equal to the challenge, red-hot Craig pouring in another five points in a 9-0 run that sent the visitors into the first break with a five-point lead.
Cotton and Davis made just one shot each from the floor in the first quarter, Craig leading all scorers with eight.
WILD SWINGS
The wild momentum swings continued in the second quarter.
With Craig dialled in from long range, the Kings kept Adelaide at arm’s length after the restart before Adelaide launched a blistering 12-2 run.
The home fans erupted when Jenkins hit another three to make it 44-37 with Goorjian calling time-out to talk things over.
Sydney rallied and led by a point with 30 seconds left in the half on the back of Craig’s fifth triple, but DJ Vasiljevic struck back from beyond the arc to send his team into the main break with a one-point advantage.
