Wildcats overcome 36ers on return home

Kristian Doolittle highlighted his importance at both ends to the Perth Wildcats with a match-winning performance as his team celebrated returning home to beat the Adelaide 36ers 110-103.

Doolittle was playing his third game back from a groin injury and scored a team-high 27 points with 10 rebounds and three assists.

He also helped limit Kendric Davis to 10 second half points after he had 21 in the first as the Wildcats overcame losing Dylan Windler to an apparent eye injury.

Doolittle also was the difference down the stretch and his two tough inside buckets, and an offensive rebound on a free-throw was crucial.

Perth were back home for the first time since December 6 having won six of seven away while Adelaide was coming off beating the Illawarra Hawks for a third time in NBL25 on Monday.

RAC Arena was sold out and the roof was briefly opened early and while Davis put up 21 points in the first half for the Sixers, the Wildcats took control in the second term.

The home team put up 30 points to 17 to lead 52-41 and even with Bryce Cotton's seven points on 3/13 shooting, he did have six assists.

The Sixers finished the third quarter with the last six points and Adelaide threatened in the fourth frame, but could never quite get that one last bucket to get in front.

It's a fifth straight win for the Wildcats as they improve to 15-9 with 17 offensive rebounds to four and 18 second chance points to five crucial with the home team attempting 13 extra field goals.

Cotton still finished with 22 points, seven assists and five rebounds with Ben Henshall providing 14 points with 3/5 from downtown, Elijah Pepper 11 points and three assists, and Keanu Pinder 10 points, seven rebounds and three assists.

"The thing I liked most about tonight is you wouldn't say we played our best or most efficient basketball," Wildcats coach John Rillie said.

"But looking after the ball, the way we rebounded, the way we had multiple contributors at different times in the game, that was really pleasing to see."

The 36ers slip to 10-13 to remain outside the top six with Davis finishing with 31 points and 10 assists while DJ Vasiljevic had 20 of his 23 points in the second half with 5/11 three-point shooting.

Montrezl Harrell also had 15 of his 19 points after half-time along with nine rebounds and four assists with Jarell Martin adding 10 points, four boards and two blocks, and Isaac Humphries nine points and eight rebounds.

"I'm super proud of our guys to come out in the second half and get control of that game," Sixers coach Mike Wells said.

"I never felt we lost our togetherness or momentum. The second quarter was the difference in the game."

After DJ Vasiljevic opened things up with a three ball for Adelaide, Perth scored the next seven points including a couple of buckets to Dylan Windler and a triple from Bryce Cotton.

Windler and Cotton then also made three-pointers to push the lead out to 13-7 but Kendric Davis then and helped the 36ers build a five-point lead, but that was back to just two by quarter-time.

Kristian Doolittle landed a three to open the second period for Perth to start a 9-2 run and with Elijah Pepper knocking down a couple of threes, the 'Cats did push out to a five-point lead.

Jesse Wagstaff then landed a trademark three up top to make it a six-point margin before Perth's lead was out to 12 just before half-time and was 11 still by the break even with just seven points on 3/13 shooting for Cotton.

The Wildcats did have 10 second chance points and 13 points off Adelaide's seven turnovers to overcome Davis' 21 points.

The 'Cats changed up the defence putting Doolittle to him in the third quarter and it worked with him adding just the three points, which came on a long ball just before three quarter-time.

Montrezl Harrell then also completed a three-point play and the Sixers had the momentum having cut the Wildcats lead back to three.

It was then just a two-point game halfway through the fourth quarter following a three-point play from Davis and then it was back to one a minute and-a-half later with another triple for Adelaide from Vasiljevic.

Once Doolittle returned for Perth he made two strong buckets inside, got an offensive rebound on a free-throw leading to three foul shots for Cotton, and on the back of that the 'Cats held on.

The Wildcats remain at home to take on Melbourne United on Wednesday night in a match up that could be crucial for a top two finish. The 36ers have a big trip now to Far North Queensland to play the Cairns Taipans on Sunday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2024/25

PERTH WILDCATS 110 (Doolittle 27, Cotton 22, Henshall 14)

ADELAIDE 36ERS 103 (Davis 31, Vasiljevic 23, Harrell 19)

BOX SCORE