59: Cotton dominates in record-breaking game

Even with Bryce Cotton producing the performance of his spectacular NBL career with 59 points, the New Zealand Breakers pushed the Perth Wildcats all the way before the home team prevailed 123-112 at RAC Arena.

Perth was looking to back up Friday's 28-point win over the Brisbane Bullets against a Breakers team fresh off having been belted by the Illawarra Hawks back on Thursday by 38 points.

The four-time MVP was feeling it right from the start with 20 points in the first quarter on 7/9 shooting with 3/5 from deep.

He added another 11 points in the second quarter to go into half-time with 31 and the Wildcats having put up the biggest half of the season to lead 69-48.

Despite Cotton surpassing his previous career-high of 45 by midway through the third quarter, the Breakers didn’t go away.

Parker Jackson-Cartwright scored 34 points to go with 10 assists himself and the Breakers had a 13-0 run late in the third quarter to make a real game of it despite losing Tacko Fall to injury in the first half.

However, Cotton kept on going on his way to the 59 points on 18/28 shooting from the field, 7/15 from deep and 16/17 from the foul line with the Wildcats winning by 11 in front of 12,505 fans on Sunday afternoon.

The 59 points from Cotton is the most by any player since the league reverted to 40-minute games in 2009/10 while he beat the 57 that was the Wildcats' high mark by James Crawford in 1987.

"It was pretty surreal and I was very focused," Cotton said post-match.

"That month I was out (with a rib injury) felt like a long time, so it just feels good to get my legs back under me.

"I'll probably check my phone and talk to my family back in Tucson - that's when it will set in. This is one for the books, for sure."

Also for Perth who are now 8-7, Izan Almansa stepped up without Keanu Pinder for 17 points and eight rebounds with Dylan Windler adding 15 points, Kristian Doolittle 13 points, five rebounds and four assists, and Ben Henshall 10 points and four boards.

On top of what Jackson-Cartwright did for New Zealand, Sam Mennenga continued his strong form with 25 points and nine rebounds with Grant Anticevich adding 10 points and four boards, and Next Star Karim Lopez nine points, five rebounds, three assists and two blocks.

"First half we were really bad; second half we really showed character and I'm proud of the way the guys responded," Breakers coach Petteri Koponen said.

"As a coach you go crazy on the sideline but as a basketball fan it was one of the most unbelievable games I have witnessed."

The Wildcats felt good after winning by 28 on Friday with the Breakers trying to bounce back from losing by 38 on Thursday, but the home team kept their momentum going with Bryce Cotton leading the way like only he can.

Perth put up 42 points in the first quarter with Cotton scoring 20 of those and while the Breakers did try to work back into the contest in the second period, the 'Cats were just feeling good about themselves.

Even though Cotton scored another 11 points, he also turned facilitator and had three assists with Perth putting up another 27 points to 24 to go into half-time leading 69-48 with Tacko Fall also a concern for the Breakers playing less than six minutes before heading to the locker room.

Cotton kept on rolling in the third quarter and added another 17 points to surpass his career-high already, but the Breakers weren’t going away and had got back within eight by three quarter-time following a 13-0 run.

Cotton hit another three to go over 50 early in the fourth quarter and Perth's lead got back out beyond double-digits, and he finished with the 59 and the 'Cats got the job done winning by 11 in a game featuring 235 points.

The Wildcats now have their last home game of 2024 on Friday night against the Illawarra Hawks while the Breakers return to New Zealand but host Melbourne United in Christchurch on Thursday and the Sydney Kings in Wellington on Saturday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2024/25

PERTH WILDCATS 123 (Cotton 59, Almansa 17, Windler 15)

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 112 (Jackson-Cartwright 34, Mennenga 25, Anticevich 10)

BOX SCORE