Cotton leads the way as Wildcats beat Breakers on the road

The four-time NBL MVP, who scored a club-record 59 points last time the two sides met last month, amassed a game-high 41 as the Wildcats survived a late scare from the Breakers to prevail 96-86.

The Wildcats made it four wins out of five in the midst of a tough seven-game away stretch ahead of next Sunday’s blockbuster clash against Tasmania in Hobart.

But it wasn’t without a fight as Perth gave up a 13-point lead early in the third quarter to trail on multiple occasions in the second half to a Matt Mooney-inspired Breakers.

Mooney hit 28 points before getting fouled out midway through the final quarter which swung the momentum back in the Wildcats’ favour.

Young gun Ben Henshall was another big performer for the visitors, finishing with 11 points – including three triples – to go with three rebounds, two assists and a steal.

WITHERS SLAM! 😤

Watch live on ESPN2, 10 & 10Play. pic.twitter.com/WiAxdiYiLc

— Perth Wildcats (@PerthWildcats) January 5, 2025

Skipper Jesse Wagstaff was vital at both ends of the floor on the way to seven points, five rebounds and three assists while spending plenty of time on Breakers giant Tacko Fall.

Cotton opened his account in the first two minutes with a long-range two before dishing off an assist to Henshall from downtown.

Henshall produced a solo effort for his second triple of the night.

Fall, who ended up with 28 points for the Breakers, was busy at the other end, causing problems in the paint with his size.

Keanu Pinder came off the bench and had an instant impact with an opportunistic put-back dunk.

The Wildcats’ outside shooting was excellent with Todd Withers and Cotton joining the three-point party late in the term.

Withers then showcased his athleticism with a one-handed dunk on the fast break after Cotton pounced on a turnover at the defensive end.

Leading 30-24 at quarter-time, the Wildcats endured a 9-0 run from the Breakers early in the second term before a couple of steadying free throws from Henshall.

WILDCATS WIN!!

Big time W in Aotearoa 💪 pic.twitter.com/rLxrzUhit3

— Perth Wildcats (@PerthWildcats) January 5, 2025

Perth’s bench players were doing their bit when given an opportunity with Hyrum Harris, Elijah Pepper and Wagstaff particularly impressive.

But it was Cotton leading the way with a team-high 17 first-half points as the superstar Wildcat made the of Parker Jackson-Cartwright’s absence and Matt Mooney’s foul trouble to help his team to a 55-44 half-time lead.

The Wildcats were up by as many as 13 points early in the third quarter before the home side stormed back into the contest to tie things up at 66-apiece with less than three minutes on the clock.

Mooney was in everything for the Breakers, who took a shock lead in the final two minutes of the term.

The lead changed multiple times before three-quarter time, with the Wildcats up by just two with a quarter left to play.

With David Okwera and Pinder on four fouls each, Hyrum Harris and Withers started on court in the final term.

Scores were level once again at 74-all before an important triple from Henshall, his third of the game.

Cotton followed that up with a three of his own to make it a six-point margin with seven-and-a-half minutes remaining.

The Breakers then enjoyed a purple patch to snatch the lead back briefly before another Cotton mid-range jumper.

Danger man Mooney was then fouled out of the game after an offensive foul for an elbow to Henshall’s face.

Breakers coach Petteri Koponen was then called for a technical foul as the intensity of the game went up a notch.

Dylan Windler was making some big plays at both ends of the floor before a couple of clutch jump shots from Cotton put the game on ice with Perth up by eight with 90 seconds left.