NBL: Kai Sotto, Adelaide 36ers continue to spiral with OT loss

FILE – Adelaide 36ers center Kai Sotto. Photo from Kai Sotto’s Instagram

MANILA, Philippines – Kai Sotto and the Adelaide 36ers suffered their fourth straight loss at the hands of the Brisbane Bullets in overtime, 106-101, in the 2022-23 Australian National Basketball League season on Thursday at the Nissan Arena.

The 7-foot-3 center had nine points on 4-of-7 shooting, seven rebounds, and two blocks in 15 minutes and 49 seconds of playing time as the starter as the 36ers fell to the eighth seed with an 11-13 record. .

Adelaide, which has lost five of its last six games, must reach the top six to qualify for the play-in as it plays its final four games of the regular season.

Sotto benched down the stretch when Antonius Cleveland forced overtime with two clutch free throws to tie Brisbane, 91-all, with 1.9 seconds left in the fourth.

Cleveland gave Adelaide an early lead 93-91 in overtime but Brisbane unleashed an 8-1 run capped by Andrew White to steal the upper hand, 99-94, with 1:51 remaining.

The former Dallas Maverick kept the 36ers within one but he committed key turnovers that led to five straight unanswered points for the Bullets, 104-98, with 32.7 seconds left.

Tyler Johnson allowed the visitors to stay within striking distance after missing two free throws but he still put the finishing touches on the home side with a pair of clutch assists with 12.9 ticks remaining.

Johnson finished with 27 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Jason Cadee had 22 points, while Aron Baynes added 16 markers and nine boards for Brisbane also-ran, which is good for a 7-17 record.

Anthony Drmic led Adelaide with 20 points, while Cleveland and Rober Franks had 18 and 17 marks respectively.

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