Adelaide 36ers Look to Hold Off South East Melbourne Phoenix in Pivotal Playoffs Game 2

The Adelaide 36ers carry a 1-0 lead into Saturday night’s NBL Playoffs Game 2 against South East Melbourne Phoenix in Melbourne, with the home side framing the rematch as a must-win to keep the series alive. After dropping Game 1 by seven points on Tuesday, Phoenix coach Josh King said his group has used the break to tighten up key areas, while the central on-court problem remains the same: slowing six-time MVP Bryce Cotton.

Game 2 Stakes Rise After Game 1 Swing

South East Melbourne enters Game 2 needing a response at home after falling in the opener, a result that left the Phoenix chasing a series-levelling win to force a Game 3 in Adelaide on Tuesday. King described his team as eager to get back on the floor quickly after the loss, saying the extra time has been used to make adjustments before the ball goes up on Saturday night in front of Phoenix fans.

King also pointed to the importance of home-court energy in Melbourne, saying the crowd will be pivotal to the Phoenix’s chances of extending the series. The rematch shifts the immediate pressure onto the home team, which now has little margin for error in execution and discipline after a Game 1 that swung on Cotton’s ability to control the game offensively.

Adelaide 36ers and the Bryce Cotton Problem Phoenix Must Solve

The defining storyline of the series so far has been Cotton’s Game 1 output. Adelaide’s offense in the opener was driven heavily by Cotton, who produced 42 points and five assists on 17-of-25 shooting from the field, including 6-of-11 from three-point range.

That performance has set the tone for the tactical conversation heading into Game 2. King’s warning was blunt: make Cotton work or pay the price. South East Melbourne’s defensive approach—both individual matchups and team schemes—will be tested again if Cotton continues to get clean looks and dictate terms.

For Adelaide, the goal is simpler: replicate the structure and organised communication that coach Mike Wells highlighted after the opening win, while ensuring Cotton remains central to the attack and secondary contributors are ready when the game’s momentum shifts.

Phoenix Adjustments: Foul Trouble, Support Scoring, and John Brown III

Game 1 also exposed specific pressure points for South East Melbourne. Owen Foxwell and John Brown III each picked up two early fouls in the opener, limiting minutes and affecting defensive aggression. King highlighted that winning requires more than one standout performance and stressed the need for multiple players to impact the game.

Brown’s two-way influence is central to that plan. King described Brown as potentially the team’s most important player because of what he brings beyond the box score—energy, defensive mindset, and overall tone. Brown was also recently named the competition’s Damian Martin Trophy winner, and his defense is viewed as a critical ingredient if the Phoenix are to better contain Cotton.

Offensively, the Phoenix leaned heavily on Nathan Sobey in Game 1. Sobey finished with 23 points, but the performance was described as inefficient given the load he carried. Another Phoenix guard, Ian Clark, had limited offensive impact in the opener and is one of the key candidates to provide relief scoring on Saturday. King also said the team intends to play fast, but that pace will need to be balanced with discipline to avoid the early whistles that disrupted the opener.

One additional concern hovering over the rematch is Brown’s condition. He sustained a groin injury late in Game 1, and while a serious injury has been ruled out and he is expected to play this elimination game, the short turnaround has raised questions about how close to full capacity he will be.

With the Phoenix’s season position tightening and Adelaide holding the series advantage, Saturday night shapes as a referendum on whether South East Melbourne can keep key defenders out of foul trouble, find reliable secondary scoring behind Sobey, and deliver a defensive plan that forces Cotton into tougher work than he faced in the opener.