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

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

/ 08:26 PM January 19, 2023

Kai Sotto Adelaide 36ers NBL

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

MANILA, Philippines — Kai Sotto and the Adelaide 36ers absorbed their fourth straight loss at the hands of the Brisbane Bullets in overtime, 106-101, in Australia’s 2022-23 National Basketball League season on Thursday at 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 a starter with the 36ers falling to the eighth seed with an 11-13 record.

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

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Sotto was benched down the stretch as 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 93-91 lead in overtime but Brisbane unleashed an 8-1 run capped by Andrew White to steal the upper hand, 99-94, with 1:51 remaining. 

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The former Dallas Maverick kept the 36ers within one but he committed crucial turnovers that led to the Bullets’ five straight unanswered points, 104—98, with 32.7 seconds remaining. 

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

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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 the also-ran Brisbane, which improved to a 7-17 record.

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

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TAGS: Adelaide 36ers, Brisbane Bullets, Kai Sotto, NBL

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