The Perth Wildcats put on an offensive clinic Saturday night, slicing through the Adelaide 36ers’ porous defense en route to an emphatic 116-92 victory. In a matchup of two teams headed in opposite directions, it was Perth’s firepower that proved too much for the hapless Sixers.
Import Dylan Windler was absolutely scorching from beyond the arc, draining 6 of his 8 attempts to lead all scorers with 24 points. His red-hot shooting helped the Wildcats build an early lead they would never relinquish.
Former 36er Keanu Pinder gave his old team fits all night, attacking the rim relentlessly and converting a whopping 12-of-16 free throws en route to 23 points. His energy and physicality overwhelmed Adelaide’s frontcourt.
Cotton’s Brilliance on Full Display
Not to be outdone, Perth superstar Bryce Cotton orchestrated the offense to perfection, dishing out 11 assists to go along with his 21 points. Time and again, Cotton sliced into the lane, collapsing the defense and kicking out to open shooters.
Nobody can stay in front of Bryce when he decides to get to the rim. He’s a magician with the ball and has that rare ability to make everyone around him better.
– Wildcats Head Coach John Rillie
Adelaide simply had no answer for Perth’s multi-pronged attack. The Sixers allowed an unforgivable 21-of-43 shooting from three-point range, repeatedly losing Wildcats shooters.
Sixers’ Struggles Continue
The 36ers, losers of 7 of their last 8, looked disjointed and disengaged for much of the night. Coach Mike Wells’ squad crashed to a 13-point halftime deficit and never threatened in the second half.
Returning from injury, captain Dejan Vasiljevic provided a brief spark off the bench with 23 points but it wasn’t nearly enough. Point guard Kendric Davis padded his stats with 19 points and 10 assists, but most of his damage came with the game well out of reach.
Wildcats Solidify Playoff Position
The win lifts Perth to fifth on the NBL ladder, keeping them firmly in the playoff hunt. With Cotton and Windler leading an explosive offense and the defense clamping down, the Wildcats look poised for another deep postseason run.
- 3-point barrage: Perth’s 21 triples sank the 36ers
- Bench boost: Pinder and Windler combined for 47 points in reserve roles
- Cotton’s court vision: The star’s 11 assists picked apart the Sixers
As for Adelaide, the season is slipping away. The defensive intensity and cohesiveness that carried last year’s squad is nowhere to be found. Without a rapid turnaround, the 36ers appear lottery-bound.
