Adelaide 36ers’ Kai Sotto. –ADELAIDE 36ERS PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Kai Sotto produced a solid outing off the bench but it wasn’t enough to get Adelaide back on track in Australia’s 2021-22 National Basketball League season on Friday.
The 36ers battled back from a double-digit hole in the fourth quarter before coming up short down the stretch in a 83-76 loss to South East Melbourne Phoenix at Adelaide Entertainment Centre.
Sotto had game-highs of nine rebounds and three blocks with four points and two assists to boot in 19 minutes of play.
Tad 🤝 DJ 🤝 Kai.
📺 – @ESPNAusNZ + @kayosports pic.twitter.com/ohd7ESBrm9
— Adelaide 36ers (@Adelaide36ers) March 4, 2022
Adelaide stared at an 11-point deficit to start the final frame before Daniel Johnson took over.
Johnson fired a game-best 31 points, 13 in the fourth quarter, including a layup that tied the game at 76 with 1:19 to play.
That basket, however, would be Adelaide’s last as South East Melbourne scored seven unanswered to close the game.