The Perth Wildcats have all-but cemented top spot on the NBL ladder with another come-from-behind win against the Adelaide 36ers at RAC Arena on Friday night.
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Perth trailed by 16 points during the second quarter, but another Bryce Cotton second-half resurgence saw the Cats home for a sixth consecutive win, 93-85.
Melbourne United must now blow the Wildcats away by an enormous margin when they host them in the final game of the home-and-away season on Sunday to pinch top spot.
But a loss in that game could see United drop to third if the Sydney Kings can beat Cairns on Saturday.
Friday night's loss leaves the Adelaide 36ers unaware of their fate.
They will be knocked out of the finals if the Brisbane Bullets beat New Zealand, also on Saturday.
After firing in the second half of last week's overtime win over the Kings, Cotton got off to a slow start again against the 36ers.
He had only five points to half-time, but dragged Perth back to within six at the final break with 13 points in the third quarter. He scored another 11 in the last to finish with 29. Nick Kay also produced another double-double.
But coach Trevor Gleeson paid tribute to retiring veteran Greg Hire, who helped swing the momentum late in the third quarter when the Cats were nine point down.
Hire received a technical foul after an altercation with Harry Froling, but he sparked the home side.
"Our mindset in the first half wasn't good; subs coming on and not following what we were doing and offensively we were pretty poor with our shot selection," Gleeson said.
"Greg really got us going; got that fire in our belly; got the crowd involved and then we started hitting some shots and getting a bit more aggressive."
Daniel Johnson was solid for the 36ers throughout with 23 points, while Anthony Drmic scored 18.
But after trailing 80-79 midway through the final term, Adelaide scored only six more points.
Adelaide coach Joey Wright summed up in two words why they lost and now have to wait to see if they progress to the post season.
"Bryce Cotton," he said.
"Bryce started to get lose and when he is hitting a few shots it opens the court up for him.
"Then other guys filled in behind him and started to knock some shots in too.
"We just have to wait it out; see what happens. It's weird, I haven't been in this position before."
The Wildcats left a lot of points on the court in the first quarter though, with missed attempted dunks, free throws and bungled lay-ups.
Australian Associated Press
