37 points, 300 games and one apology Adelaide refused to accept

Bryce Cotton has won more games off his own bat than anyone could count, which is exactly why his teammates were stunned to hear him apologise after Thursday night's loss in Perth.

Cotton had just poured in 37 points in his 300th NBL game, but after reaching in on Elijah Pepper's banked three with 1.9 seconds left, he went around the Adelaide sheds telling teammates he was "sorry that I cost us the game".

"I said, 'listen, man, we wouldn't have even been in a position to win if you didn't have the game that you had. You do not need to apologise'," Nick Rakocevic told CODE Sports.

"He was really down in the dumps because he took responsibility."

A 15-point deficit became a 13-point lead for the undermanned Sixers by the third quarter, powered by 18 points from Cotton in that term alone.

But Perth won the fourth 28-20, and an 8-0 Adelaide burst in the final two minutes only set the stage for Pepper's heroics.

"Everybody needs to look themselves in the mirror and there's a whole list of things that cost us," Rakocevic said.

"Everybody made mistakes. I missed two crucial free throws toward the end of the game. I just feel bad. Without Bryce, it wouldn't have even been close."

The 36ers won't have to wait long to make amends, with a sold-out Adelaide Entertainment Centre set to host their first home game of NBL27 against Cairns on Sunday.

The game will be live on ESPN from 4pm AEST.

Read the full story here >> ‘You do not need to apologise’: Adelaide 36ers rally around despondent Bryce Cotton