Cotton delivers OT buzzer beater for 36ers

For the second time in three days the New Zealand Breakers threw everything at a top two team, but the Adelaide 36ers had Bryce Cotton and the five-time MVP hit the match clinching three in overtime in stunning fashion.

Cotton did what only he can and stepped up to knock down the game winner with a second remaining as the 36ers broke the hearts of the Breakers for the 112-110 win at Spark Arena.

The Breakers were looking to close in on sixth position and were back home after a competitive showing on Wednesday in Melbourne to the South East Melbourne Phoenix.

They found themselves 10 points down with three minutes to go in regulation, but Parker Jackson-Cartwright inspired them to a big finish with the game going to an extra five minutes.

And the Breakers were on top of most of the overtime period until a disastrous finish that began when Karim Lopez didn’t get his inbounds pass in play within five seconds with 9.7 seconds on the clock and New Zealand up one.

That gave Adelaide the chance at a winner and more specifically Cotton, and he was left isolated up top with Breakers big man Sam Mennenga who was switched on to him.

Cotton's three-point step back never looked like missing and went down with 1.0 second left on the clock to deliver the 36ers the stunning 112-110 road win that keeps them clear in top spot.

It was an impressive offensive display from both teams all evening with the Breakers shooting 53 per cent from the field and 13/23 from three-point range while the 36ers went 51 per cent overall and 16/38 from deep.

That included new 36ers import John Jenkins making 6/11 for 24 points in just his second appearance while Cotton hit 5/10 including the game winner on his way to 33 points with nine assists to strengthen his claims on a sixth MVP award.

Flynn Cameron also made two massive threes in overtime when the Sixers needed them most and had 17 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals with Zylan Cheatham having another double-double with 12 points, 11 boards, three assists, two steals and two blocks.

It was a valiant effort from the Breakers and they will be kicking themselves to not seal the deal and remain in seventh place at 10-17 behind the 12-15 Tasmania JackJumpers.

It could have come at a cost as well with superstar centre Sam Mennenga falling hard in the fourth quarter on a play that Cheatham ran under him when he was going up at the basket.

An unsportsmanlike was called and Mennenga battled through the sore wrist the rest of the game and finished with 20 points, 12 rebounds and two assists on 9/13 shooting.

Max Darling (12 points, 4/4 three-point shooting) also hurt a knee and that could be two horror blows to a New Zealand front court having lost import Rob Baker II who ruptured an ACL last week in Perth.

Izaiah Brockington made 4/6 from downtown for the Breakers on his way to 21 points, four rebounds and three assists with Parker Jackson-Cartwright adding 21 points, 10 assists and four steals while making his lone three-point attempt.

Next Star Karim Lopez had a strong showing too with 21 points, 11 rebounds and two assists but he'll be left ruing that five-second violation in the dying seconds.

The 36ers now head straight to Sydney for another tantalising clash with the Kings on Sunday afternoon while the Breakers are next in action back at Spark Arena next Friday against Melbourne United.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26 – PRIDE ROUND

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 110 (Brockington 24, Lopez 21, Mennenga 20)

ADELAIDE 36ERS 112 (Cotton 33, Jenkins 24, Cameron 17)

BOX SCORE