Cotton leads 'Cats with Sarr/Usher help

It was Bryce Cotton time at the NBL Blitz with the Perth Wildcats superstar leading his team to the 102-95 win over Cairns Taipans with Jordan Usher and Alex Sarr impressive too.

Day 2 of the NBL Blitz on the Gold Coast concluded with the Taipans and Wildcats doing battle in a rematch of last season's play-in game. By the end of it, Cotton had showed just how good he will be in NBL24 with more help around him.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bryce Cotton&#39;s handle is different ?<br><br>The <a href="https://twitter.com/PerthWildcats?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Perthwildcats</a> star has 22 first half points ?<br><br>Perth lead the <a href="https://twitter.com/CairnsTaipans?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CairnsTaipans</a>, 53-49 at the half. <br><br>Watch the second half live &amp; free via Kayo Freebies ? <a href="https://t.co/6c5Yc6Kg5n">pic.twitter.com/6c5Yc6Kg5n</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1703292927215063396?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The three-time MVP and NBL championship winner put up 22 points in the first half on Sunday on his way to 31 for the game. But it was the help he received especially from new import Usher and Next Star Sarr that made him even more dangerous.

It was a stunning start to the NBL Blitz from the Wildcats who were fresh off playing two games in Las Vegas against the NBA G League Ignite, including winning the second of those impressively and then coming straight to the Gold Coast.

Perth put up 36 points to 22 in the opening quarter but the Taipans did well to turn things around in the second period with Tahjere McCall coaching the team and Taran Armstrong taking on the point guard duties.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aWUs6SJLkPg?si=p19SAgvGYQcQpN6H" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

As a result, the 'Cats lead was cut to 53-49 by half-time with Cotton delivering 22 points for Perth and Lat Mayen impressing for Cairns with 17 on the back of his NBL1 South season playing under Stephen Black at the Bendigo Braves.

It was still just a two-point game with just over two minutes to go until the Wildcats closed it out scoring seven of the last nine points including Cotton once again fouled shooting the three ball and then Sarr icing the club with a clutch jumper.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bobi Klintman finishes over the top of fellow NBL Next Star, Alexandre Sarr ?<br><br>Watch every game live &amp; free via Kayo Freebies ?<br><br>Outside Australia? Watch via ?? <a href="https://t.co/8LoWsbR7E4">https://t.co/8LoWsbR7E4</a> <a href="https://t.co/PKIuZgxm4V">pic.twitter.com/PKIuZgxm4V</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1703302952612442401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Coming off his 40-point outburst for the Wildcats in Las Vegas against the G League Ignite, Cotton produced the 31 points on Sunday with 10/17 shooting from the floor and 9/11 at the free-throw line.

Jordan Usher looks like he's going to be quite the astute signing for the 'Cats this season too with the athletic and versatile forward producing 19 points, three rebounds and two assists including some spectacular plays.

Speaking of spectacular, Next Star Alex Sarr is rising up NBA Draft boards every day and he had another 13 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two blocks while knocking down a couple of three-pointers.

Corey Webster is warming up for another season to continue his 266-game career and had 12 points for Perth while Keanu Pinder might have been on minutes restriction, but put everything into his 22 minutes with eight points and eight rebounds against his former team.

The Snakes were without Tahjere McCall who was coaching the team, but the efforts of Taran Armstrong to run the team was impressive. He finished with four points, eight rebounds and seven assists before fouling out.

Lat Mayen had 17 points for the Snakes with all those coming in the first half while Sam Waardenburg is looking to build on his brilliant rookie season with another 15 points and four boards.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jordan Usher is getting buckets and letting everybody know ??<br><br>The <a href="https://twitter.com/PerthWildcats?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Perthwildcats</a> trail <a href="https://twitter.com/CairnsTaipans?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Cairnstaipans</a> 67-68 in the third quarter.<br><br>Watch every game live &amp; free via Kayo Freebies ?<br><br>Outside Australia? Watch via ?? <a href="https://t.co/8LoWsbR7E4">https://t.co/8LoWsbR7E4</a> <a href="https://t.co/24w5AiyPZD">pic.twitter.com/24w5AiyPZD</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1703299180783882502?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Next Star Bobi Klintman had 14 points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists while Jonah Antonio contributed 10 points and four boards, and new import Patrick Miller eight points and five assists.

The Wildcats are next in action at the NBL Blitz on the Gold Coast on Tuesday night against the Adelaide 36ers while the Snakes take on the South East Melbourne Phoenix first up on Wednesday afternoon.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL BLITZ

PERTH WILDCATS 102 (Cotton 31, Usher 19, Sarr 13) 

CAIRNS TAIPANS 95 (Mayen 17, Waardenburg 15, Klintman 14)

BOX SCORE