Kai Sotto saw little playing time in Adelaide’s 72-97 loss to Tasmania to open their 2022-23 National Basketball League campaign, Thursday at Adelaide Entertainment Centre.
Sotto, who is in his second year with the 36ers, only played five minutes and seven seconds in the contest, tallying just four points on 1-of-3 shooting from the field with three rebounds and a steal.
Despite Adelaide being doomed by a 10-32 deficit after the opening frame, Coach CJ Bruton only played Sotto two minutes in the first three quarters of the contest, only plugging the 7-foot-3 big man back in the game during the last three minutes of the contest.
The JackJumpers never lost grip of the double-digit lead it had in the opening frame, leading by as much as 27 points, 97-70, after two free throws by Jarred Bairstow.
Tasmania, who notched their second straight win to go up to 2-3, was led by Josh Magette with 23 points, seven assists, and four steals.
Rashard Kelly scored 19 points from off-the-bench duties while Milton Doyle added 16 markers.
Craig Randall was the high-point man for Adelaide with 18 points. Robert Franks scored 14 points while Antonius Cleveland was limited to just 10 points on 5-of-14 shooting from the field.
Adelaide will next face Illawarra on Saturday.
