ANOTHER Bryce Cotton masterclass has helped Perth Wildcats claim a big win over the Brisbane Bullets to close out Round 16 of the National Basketball League (NBL) at Nissan Arena on Wednesday night.

The match marked the end of a gruelling road trip for the Wildcats, but Perth had pulled an impressive record of five wins from six away games heading into the clash. However, facing off against the Bullets at home is no easy feat, given Brisbane has found a new lease on life over the past couple of months, changing to a play style that has boosted its offensive output.

The Bullets were shorthanded, particularly in the frontcourt, but got off to the hotter start, jumping out to an eight-point lead in the first quarter. However, some red-hot shooting from the Wildcats saw the visiting side break the game open in the second period, making their first eight three-point attempts for the match. It was a defining time in the match, and although the Bullets tried hard to keep the game close, Perth ended up cruising home to a 27-point triumph.

Cotton got one step closer to securing his fourth Most Valuable Player (MVP) award with another tremendous showing in the victory.

Brisbane Bullets (85) def. by Perth Wildcats (112)

Bryce Cotton – 36 points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals

Cotton was at his brilliant best once again, continuing his MVP-calibre campaign that has included some ridiculous scoring performances.

Teams know by now that restricting his influence is key to stopping the Wildcats, but stopping Cotton is far easier said than done. Although the Bullets tried a number of different defensive coverages to slow him down, it was all in vain as he recorded another 30+ point scoring performance.

His 36 points were the most of any player in the match, although fellow MVP contender Casey Prather was not far behind with 32 of his own alongside 11 rebounds. It was an entertaining duel between two of the in-form players of the competition, but it was Cotton who took home the chocolates.

From the field, Cotton shot 12/25 and was a deadly 5/7 from behind the arc, playing his role on a night where the Wildcats knocked down an impressive 13 triples on 28 attempts. The superstar’s ability to create space off the dribble was on display again, and the defence could only do so much.

12 of his points came in the decisive second quarter, helping the Wildcats break the game open with back to back triples early in the term. The team rallied behind his scoring efforts in a patch of play that essentially decided the result.

Cotton now has one hand on the MVP award after yet another outstanding offensive performance, and the Wildcats will be hard to stop if he keeps this sort of form rolling.