Adelaide 36ers coach Mike Wells has unleashed a furious tirade against what he labelled 'dangerous' actions from two Brisbane Bullets imports, following a chaotic on-court scuffle that resulted in seven ejections during Wednesday night's NBL clash. The incident marred the ladder-leading 36ers' dominant 107-74 victory over the Bullets on the Gold Coast, a win that secured their spot in the upcoming in-season Ignite Cup final.
Wild Scuffle Erupts in Final Quarter
The explosive altercation unfolded late in the final quarter when Brisbane guard Hunter Maldonado became entangled with Adelaide big man Nick Rakocevic. The pair tumbled into empty front-row seats, prompting a full-scale melee. Bullets guard Terry Taylor quickly intervened, placing Rakocevic—who has already served one suspension this season—in a headlock.
Wells, struggling to contain his emotions post-game, described the scene with palpable anger. 'By the time I got down there ... Terry Taylor had Nick in a headlock in his back and Maldonado was punching him in the stomach,' he claimed. 'That's not basketball. This is a hard-playing league ... (but) that crossed the line.'
Coach Expresses Fear for Player Safety
The Adelaide coach emphasised his genuine concern for Rakocevic's wellbeing during the violent exchange. 'It concerned me ... it rattled all of us. He's (Taylor) got a choke-hold ... holding a guy by the neck. That is really dangerous,' Wells stated. 'I was really scared for my player. I screamed at Terry, almost like a parent, like 'What are you doing?'. And Maldonado ... he was not stopping. I am fired up and a little concerned.'
In addition to Maldonado, Taylor, and Rakocevic being ejected, four Brisbane bench players—Tristan Devers, Taine Murray, Alex Ducas, and Sam McDaniel—were also marched from the building for leaving the bench area during the altercation. Ducas and McDaniel were inactive players sidelined with injuries.
Game Outcome and Team Reactions
The incident left the already injury-ravaged Bullets with just one player remaining on their bench. Adelaide were awarded four free-throws and continued to dominate the fourth quarter, ultimately securing a comprehensive 33-point victory. This loss marks Brisbane's 16th defeat in their last 17 games, following recent heavy losses of 32 and 38 points.
Adelaide sharp-shooter DJ Vasiljevic added fuel to the fire by criticising the Bullets' conduct. 'Throwing cheap shots at us because they're going to finish last. I hope the league looks into it,' he said, describing their actions as 'unprofessional'.
Brisbane Coach Disputes Adelaide's Version
However, interim Brisbane coach Darryl McDonald offered a starkly different account of the incident. 'I saw Rakocevic like, power drive Maldonado (into the ground),' he countered. 'Guys protecting each other ... nobody threw punches. He (Maldonado) was trying to get away from the guy. Go to the tape, have a look.'
On-Court Performances Amidst Chaos
Despite the late-game drama, several players delivered standout performances. Brisbane forward Jacob Holt recorded a career-high 24 points in another promising display, while Adelaide were led by new import John Jenkins with 19 points and the irrepressible Bryce Cotton, who contributed 22 points, seven assists, and five rebounds.
Isaac Humphries and Flynn Cameron both added 16 points for the visitors, demonstrating excellent scoring distribution. A 39-point final term blew the game wide open after Brisbane had won the second quarter and trailed by just six points at the main break.
The victory ensures Adelaide's place in the February 22 Ignite Cup final against the New Zealand Breakers, where they will compete for a share of $400,000 in prizemoney. The league is expected to review the incident thoroughly, with potential suspensions looming for those involved in the unsavoury scuffle.
