Cotton stars as Wildcats beat B-Corsairs

In his first game of the tour, the four-time NBL MVP didn't miss a beat, scoring a game-high 36 points in a typically dominant performance.

Cotton, who missed the last two wins over Nagoya and Chiba with a thumb issue, scored 15 of those in the second quarter alone of a see-sawing contest against a Yokohama team which included former Illawarra star Gary Clark.

Captain Jesse Wagstaff also featured in his first game in Japan, and for the entire pre-season, with his leadership and efforts at both ends of the floor important in a hard-fought game.

Wagstaff was full of praise for his long-time teammate Cotton post-match.

“That’s why he’s the best player in the league," Wagstaff said.

"He’s so good. He can put 36 points on the board in an unselfish manner because he always makes the right pass and plays the right way at the defensive end as well.

“He always comes back each year having never missed a beat. He works hard, gets in the gym and does his work. That’s why he’s so good. We’re always taken back by how good he is and how quick and agile he is because of what he puts his body through. He’s doing BC things.”

The clash was played under different conditions, with the scoreboard re-setting at the end of each quarter, becoming four mini-games. Both teams won two quarters apiece.

The Wildcats head back to Australia on Thursday ahead of the inaugural NBL Blitz on the Gold Coast.

Their first game of the tournament is against New Zealand Breakers on Sunday, which will be streamed live on Kayo from 1.30pm.

Wildcats fixtures - NBL Blitz 2024, Gold Coast

Sunday 8 September (1.30pm): v New Zealand Breakers

Tuesday 10 September (5.30pm): v Illawarra Hawks

Thursday 12 September (5.30pm): v Cairns Taipans

*all times WST