Adelaide 36ers reach NBL Championship Series after dominant Game 3 victory over Phoenix
Finals breakthrough - Bryce Cotton's 38-point masterclass and Dejan Vasiljevic's explosive shooting performance propel Adelaide to their first NBL grand final appearance in eight years with a commanding 108-96 victory over South East Melbourne Phoenix in the decisive Game 3.
The 36ers advanced to the Championship Seriesm Photo Credit: Adelaide 36ers
The Adelaide 36ers have punched their ticket to the NBL Championship Series, defeating the South East Melbourne Phoenix 108-96 in a dominant Game 3 performance at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. The victory marks Adelaide’s first grand final appearance since 2018, setting up a mouth-watering clash with the Sydney Kings.
Bryce Cotton delivered another MVP-caliber performance, pouring in 38 points to finish the semi-final series with a staggering 36.3 scoring average. The six-time league MVP was unstoppable throughout, adding seven assists and six rebounds to his scoring clinic. His partnership with captain Dejan Vasiljevic proved devastating, as the duo combined for 65 points on exceptional shooting.
Home court was ELECTRIC tonight ⚡️
Re-live the big moments with the Tyrepower Highlights 🎥#SixersStrong #WeAreSixers pic.twitter.com/In7wA9EGmR
— Adelaide 36ers (@Adelaide36ers) March 17, 2026
Vasiljevic steps up in starting role
Vasiljevic’s promotion to the starting five paid immediate dividends, with the captain responding with 27 points on scorching 6-of-10 3-points shooting. His early barrage helped establish Adelaide’s dominance, including back-to-back triples to open the second quarter that extended the lead to 37-17.
« I couldn’t be more proud, » 36ers coach Mike Wells said. « We won the offensive rebounds and we crushed them on the boards totally (52-31). Our guys showed real toughness and grit the entire game. »
Adelaide controlled every facet of the game, shooting 57 percent from the field compared to Phoenix’s 43 percent while dominating the rebounding battle 52-31. The 36ers also capitalized at the free-throw line, converting 23-of-31 attempts compared to Phoenix’s 11-of-13.
Ian Clark kept the Phoenix competitive with 32 points on 5-of-7 3-points shooting, while Nathan Sobey – who was booed mercilessly throughout – managed 17 points on a difficult 6-of-18 shooting night after his Game 2 heroics.
Sixers maintain control despite Phoenix fightback
Despite opening commanding leads, Adelaide couldn’t rest easy given Phoenix’s Game 2 comeback from 18 points down. Clark’s eight straight points in the third quarter briefly threatened another rally, cutting the deficit to 68-60, but Cotton had other ideas.
The dynamic guard buried his fourth 3-pointer on the third-quarter buzzer to push Adelaide’s advantage to 83-64, effectively sealing the victory. Nick Rakocevic (14 points, 12 rebounds) and Isaac Humphries (13 points) provided crucial interior presence, while Matt Kenyon made an unlikely impact with five rebounds in just 2:41 of action.
« We got out-hustled a little bit to start the game, » Phoenix coach Josh King said. « They (Adelaide) came out ready to go. Congrats to them – they played a heck of a game and they deserve to be in the grand final. »
The Championship Series against Sydney begins Saturday night at Qudos Bank Arena, featuring a compelling storyline with former 36ers star Kendric Davis now leading the Kings’ championship defense.
Sylvain Sultat follows the NBA on a daily basis, covering individual performances, team dynamics, and the league's greatest stories. On Be-Basketball, he breaks down the latest American basketball news with passion and consistency, always on the lookout for the trends shaping the world of basketball.
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