Just a week ago, Sotto scored a season-high 16 points.
Kai Sotto remains a starter for the Adelaide 36ers in Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL), but his minutes are still far from that of a closer.
In the 36ers’ 112-97 blowout loss at the hands of the Perth Wildcats, Sotto played for a total of 10 minutes and 41 seconds, his second lowest output since becoming a starter in December. In that loss against Perth, the 7-foot-3 big man put up 4 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 blocks.
Sotto actually started the game well. “In the first five minutes, Kai was really good for us,” said coach CJ Bruton via 36ers’ official website. In that opening salvo, Sotto scored two baskets — a dunk and an alley-oop — and blocked one shot.
After four minutes of playing time, Sotto was subbed out, and in the times he returned, he failed to make another basket or any significant impact to the game.
This performance is coming on the heels of a 6-point performance in their last game against the Tasmania JackJumpers (98-82 loss), but at least he snagged 7 rebounds and played 18 minutes in that game.
In the game prior to that, Sotto had his arguably best game of the season, scoring a season-high 16 points, grabbing 5 rebounds, and swatting 2 shots in a tight 85-83 loss to the New Zealand Breakers.
But perhaps this game may be attributed to one of those bad nights, not just for Sotto, but for the 36ers.
"We weren't able to keep the scoreboard pressure at the other end of the floor," coach Bruton said. "We were in this game then we were playing catch up.”
Sotto and the 36ers will next play the Brisbane Bullets on Thursday, January 19.