A thrilling buzzer-beater from Bryce Cotton has equalised the NBL Finals at 1-1, with the six-time league MVP racing the length of the court to complete a layup just as the clock hit zero in a nail-biting 91-89 triumph.
The remarkable moment saw the 36ers guard celebrating alongside ESPN commentators in the aftermath, sharing a fist bump with Australian basketball legend Andrew Gaze, a gesture that caught the attention of Sydney star Kendric Davis, who fiercely contested the display.
Davis, who had just missed a crucial layup with 5.7 seconds remaining in the match that allowed Cotton to score, was visibly agitated, flashing three fingers and shouting in Cotton’s face.
Kendric Davis confronts Bryce Cotton after the game. ESPN
Kings player Shaun Bruce had to intervene to separate the two players as tensions threatened to escalate into a physical altercation.
“Things are getting serious between Kendric Davis and Bryce Cotton,” exclaimed ESPN commentator Jack Heverin, acknowledging the intensity of the confrontation right before their broadcast desk.
Gaze remarked, “Wow. That escalated quickly.”
“There’s no need to exaggerate this. It was significant and genuine,” he added.
Cotton was clearly upset after being separated, frustrated that his buzzer-beater celebration had turned into a confrontation.
Kings co-owner and Australian basketball star Andrew Bogut stepped in to try to defuse the situation with Davis.
After some persuasion, both teams assembled for a handshake, although Davis turned away and exited the court.
The rivalry between the pair is well documented, with Davis previously accusing the NBL of bias in the MVP voting for Cotton this season.
He has finished runner-up to Cotton in consecutive years, losing out this time by just two votes.
Following the game, he voiced his frustrations on Instagram Live, saying, “If you compare my stats to his without our names, I guarantee I come out on top. No doubt about it, but that’s not how it went.”
Davis and Cotton confront each other. ESPN
“It’s important to speak up, otherwise it gets swept under the rug,” Davis said. “I don’t want to hear about ‘rook’ anymore. It’s meaningless. They never wanted me to win it in the first place. Trust me.”
“Why do you think the NBL made those comments earlier in the season about me being a bad teammate?”
Davis was the leading scorer for the Kings in the second match, finishing with 20 points, while teammates Xavier Cooks and Torrey Craig contributed 18 and 17 points, respectively.
Cotton led the 36ers with a sublime 28-point performance, supported by Flynn Cameron with 17 points and John Jenkins with 14.
The two teams will clash again on Sunday in Sydney for game three of the finals.
The Kings took a commanding 112-68 victory in game one, but Adelaide’s win in game two proves that this series is far from over.
Compiled by SportArena.au.
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