Basketball On The Internet.

JUST for the benefit of anyone, or perhaps just that "one" person who wondered if Bryce Cotton's MVP win this season was completely kosher, the NBL's little master last night put on a 42-point extravaganza to secure a 1-0 lead for Adelaide over South East Melbourne in the semi finals. 

It was a timely reminder of the six-time MVP's greatness, his tally including a flawless 16-point first quarter off 6-of-6 shooting, including 2-of-2 threes, plus 2-of-2 free throws, in a 24-point first half that led to 42 for the game at 68 per cent, with 6-of-11 triples and an equal team-high five assists.

To say Cotton was the difference would be an understatement of Uluru-size proportions, yet despite all he did, the Phoenix stayed in the hunt to the bitter end.

Ian Clark's 3-pointer with 4:38 remaining meant South East trailed 92-94, concluding an 8-0 run in 55 withering seconds after Adelaide appeared to have it sewn up, ahead 94-84 at 5:33 left.

Clark hit a jumpshot, Nathan Sobey stole the inbounds, feeding Angus Glover for a three before Clark's triple.

But down the stretch, Nick Rakocevic - who double-doubled with 14 points at 64 per cent, plus 10 rebounds - came up big, a drive and a tap-in book-ending a Cotton basket to have the lead blow back out to 100-92.

Clark, Sobey, Owen Foxwell - who picked up two early fouls and was never a factor - missed open threes and the Phoenix were heading home to Melbourne trying to extend the series on Saturday, coach Josh King with only tinkering to do.

After all, the Phoenix collected 21 offensive rebounds, only had six turnovers but at key times, could not find the knock-out blow.

In the second quarter, some slick long-range bombing by Glover helped South East six points clear and at 37-31 ahead, Clark had a wide open look for three at the top of the key.

But instead of being ahead 40-31, his shot missed, igniting instead a 10-0 response by the 36ers, mainly again anchored by Cotton and Rakocevic.

The latter again let his less refined instincts kick in when he gave up an ugly unsportsmanlike foul clubbing Akech Aliir from behind. But if Adelaide was going to win, it needed someone to step up and support Cotton, Rakocevic and Dejan Vasiljevic fitting the bill, DJ finishing with 17 points at 50 per cent.

John Jenkins again was little more than excess baggage for the 36ers, Vasiljevic's form making the import's recruitment look foolish.

For South East, John Brown picked up his game after early foul problems threatened to scuttle his input, something Foxwell was unable to do, and Sobey's 23 points came off 9-of-27 shooting, including a dreadful 2-of-11 from beyond the arc.

Although on several occasions he chose himself as the scoring option when the team needed to run a set, he also compiled 10 boards and seven assists.

Glover was efficient with his 4-of-6 threes in 14 points and maybe could have played more, Malique Lewis' final stats not reflective of how many little things he did.

For the 36ers, Cotton's recruitment always was going to mean a semi final berth and while he had solid help from Zylan Cheatham (13 points, nine rebounds, five assists), it would be asking a lot of the little genius to play at least four more games like that to claim an Adelaide championship.

In other news, Brisbane Bullets have secured Will Weaver as the club's new head coach and "president of basketball operations".

NBL PLAYOFFS 2026

Best-of-3 Semi Finals

Game 1: Adelaide 36ers 104 (Cotton 42, Vasiljevic 17, Rakocevic 14, Cheatham 13; Rakocevic 10 rebs; Flynn, Cheatham, Cotton 5 assts) d South East Melbourne Phoenix 97 (Sobey 23, Glover, Hunter 14, Clark 12; Sobey 10 rebs; Sobey 7 assts) at Adelaide Entertainment Centre. Crowd: 10,055

Game 2: Saturday, John Cain Arena

Game 3 (if required): Tuesday, March 17 in Adelaide

Game 1: Sydney Kings v Perth Wildcats, tonight, Qudos Bank Arena

Game 2: Saturday, RAC Arena

Game 3 (if required): Wednesday, March 18 in Sydney

KO Qualifying Final

Perth Wildcats 95 (Lual-Acuil 28, Doolittle 24, Windler 18; Lual-Acuil 12 rebs; Doolittle, Henshall 6 assts) d Melbourne United 77 (Doyle 13, Edwards, Walker 12; Edwards 8 rebs; Delany 3 assts) at RAC Arena. Crowd: 6,731. Wildcats advance to semi finals v Sydney Kings.

Qualifying Final (3v4)

South East Melbourne Phoenix 111 (Sobey 24, Foxwell 18, Clark 16, Glover 12; Brown 8 rebs; Sobey 7 assts) d Perth Wildcats 94 (Doolittle 22, Windler 13, Lual-Acuil, Henshall, Duke 11; Huefner, Lual-Acuil, Doolittle 6 rebs; Windler 7 assts) at John Cain Arena. Crowd: 3,891 Phoenix progress to semi finals v Adelaide 36ers.

Elimination Final (5v6)

Melbourne United 82 (Delany 33, Doyle 19, Krebs 11; Krslovic 7 rebs; Walker, Doyle 6 assts) d Tasmania JackJumpers 68 (Marshall 20, Johnson, Bannan 16, Campbell 12; Deng 9 rebs; Campbell 6 assts) at John Cain Arena. Crowd: 5,071. Melbourne advances to KO final with Perth Wildcats.