Cairns falls to Adelaide to end Blitz campaign

The Adelaide 36ers sealed a standout 112-86 win against the Kenfrost Homes Cairns Taipans at the 2026 NBL Blitz, with Bryce Cotton leading the way for Adelaide with 22 points in 17 minutes.

The Sixers did lose at the buzzer thanks to Milton Doyle against the Illawarra Hawks in their first hit out at the Blitz in Bendigo ahead of taking on a Taipans team on Saturday night who had got over the line against the Perth Wildcats back on Wednesday.

The 36ers were closer to full strength with only Isaac Humphries, Matt Kenyon and Deonte Williams missing while Cairns did come into the match up minus Kyrin Galloway, Jaylin Galloway and Next Star Luke Paul.

Cotton then set up the win for the Sixers with 18 points in the first half on his way to 22 for the game while only playing 17 minutes with 8/12 shooting with three assists with his team ending up prevailing by 26 points on the back of putting 112 on the board.

There was also some drama during the third quarter after Zylan Cheatham was backing down Jack McVeigh, and then tempers briefly spilled over.

Cheatham gave McVeigh a little shove, the Cairns superstar played it up and then Shaun Bruce was the third man in as things briefly escalated into a pull apart between both teams.

What was most impressive was Cotton showing that he's not just a six-time MVP winning superstar, but now is turning into a vocal leader by pulling in his Adelaide group imploring them to stay focused on the job at hand and not get distracted by little incidents like that.

In the end, Cheatham, McVeigh and Bruce all copped unsportsmanlike fouls and then things settled down with Adelaide focusing on the job at hand.

The Sixers did get off to a strong start with 31 points to 23 in the first quarter with Cotton adding nine points and Jacob Rigoni six who banged down the door for another opportunity after a standout NBL1 Central season with the Sturt Sabres.

It was another 32 points to 26 in the second frame with Adelaide going into half-time leading 63-49 with Cotton up to 18 points while they were shooting at a scorching 65 per cent from the field to 44 from the Taipans.

Then in the dramatic third quarter, Adelaide ended up with another 27 points on 8/13 shooting with 11/13 foul shooting with Cairns managing just the 12 points with 5/18 shooting and just two free-throw attempts.

Cairns did win the fourth quarter with 25 points to 22 but Adelaide still won by 26 ending up shooting 61 per cent as a team along with 29/36 at the foul line.

Along with Cotton's 22 points and three assists, John Jenkins III had 19 points and four rebounds for Adelaide with Flynn Cameron adding 16 points and two assists, Zylan Cheatham 13 points and eight rebounds, and Keanu Rasmussen 10 points on 5/6 shooting.

Nick Rakocevic also had 10 points, 13 rebounds and three assists, Jacob Rigoni eight points and three assists, Ben Griscti seven points, and Isaac White seven points and four assists fresh off a Grand Final MVP winning season at the Rockingham Flames along with a second straight NBL1 West MVP award.

The Taipans ended up shooting just 41 per cent from the floor and 14/44 from behind the arc with 44 of their 75 shot attempts from the outside.

Reyne Smith ended up top scoring with 14 points on 4/11 three-point shooting with Jonah Bolden having 11 points all of which came in the first where he played nine minutes before his night was done while also having three rebounds and three assists.

Jack McVeigh ended up with 10 points and three rebounds, younger brother Lloyd 10 points, six boards and two assists, Malique Lewis nine points and two assists, and Kobe Williamson eight points, five rebounds and two assists.

ADELAIDE 36ERS 112 – CAIRNS TAIPANS 86

Adelaide 36ers
Bryce Cotton – 22 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds
John Jenkins III – 19 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
Flynn Cameron – 16 points, 2 assists
Zylan Cheatham – 13 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists
Nick Rakocevic – 10 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists

Cairns Taipans
Reyne Smith – 14 points, 4/11 3PT
Jonah Bolden – 11 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists
Lloyd McVeigh – 10 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists
Jack McVeigh – 10 points, 3 rebounds
Malique Lewis – 9 points, 2 assists

Written by Chris Pike for NBL.com.au