DrinkWise Game Preview - Round 4: Perth Wildcats vs Adelaide 36ers
20 Oct
1
min read


Wildcats head coach John Rillie confirmed that import Kristian Doolittle (knee) and guard Kyle Zunic (foot) were cleared to fly to Adelaide on Friday ahead of captain Jesse Wagstaff's 450th game.
Doolittle sent a scare into the Wildcats' camp early in last Friday night's clash against Melbourne United at RAC Arena when he went down with a knee injury.
But scans revealed the 26-year-old had avoided serious damage.
"He was out there performing, scoring buckets and playing defence. I’ll rule him in," Rillie said after practice on Thursday.
"Doolittle is going to be travelling to Adelaide and playing. Any sportsman that goes down like that, you do hold your breath and hope it doesn’t impact their career for any type of length.
"It’s been great to have him out in practice this week and him re-joining our team.
"He influences the game in ways that statistically don’t show up. You saw Jesse’s impact the other day when he played - Kristian and Jesse bring a similar type of impact to the game for our group."
Rillie said the full roster availability was a nice problem to have as his team hunts their third win of the season and second against Adelaide.
"This is the first time we've had everyone healthy to take on the road with us," he said.
"I can say it’s a great thing, because as we’re trying to search and find ourself having everyone available is great to have in that situation.
"You have to have those conversations with guys so they understand where they fit and when their opportunity comes along.
"Dave Okwera plays against Sydney and hadn't played in the last couple of games and he did a great job coming in.
"The old coaching cliche 'you'd better come and be ready for your opportunity' - because your opportunity will come at some stage."
Game Details
Who: Perth Wildcats vs Adelaide 36ers
When: 5pm WST Saturday 21 October
Where: Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Watch: Live on ESPN via Kayo or Foxtel
Opposition watch
Adelaide are shaping up as a danger side after breaking through for their first win of the season against lllawarra last weekend and signing sharpshooting import Dejan Vasiljevic during the week.
The 36ers dropped Thursday night's clash to South East Melbourne Phoenix in Vasiljevic's debut and will be desperate to bounce back on their home court.
Last time they met
The Wildcats celebrated their annual Pink Game clash with a hard-fought win over Adelaide at RAC Arena on October 6.
Three-time NBL MVP Bryce Cotton led the scoring with 19 points in the 82-75 result, with fellow import Jordan Usher and French Next Star hit 16 apiece.

22 May
No Cotton for 36ers clash

22 May
Wildcats tick boxes in Cairns win

20 May
Coach wants 40 minutes in 450th

19 May
Wildcats fade-out in Brisbane heartbreaker

18 May
Breaking records on the road

17 May
Introducing the 2021 Perth Wildcats Indigenous Uniform

17 May
Wildcats clinch 35th consecutive NBL Finals berth

17 May
Wildcats share workload in Cairns win

16 May
Wildcats look to clinch finals berth in Cairns

15 May
Blanchfield, Norton come up big in Brisbane

14 May
Wildcats wary as Finals fight continues

14 May
Slow start costs Wildcats

12 May
Magnay to play first minutes

12 May
Magnay wanted to team up with Mooney

10 May
Date set for Perth Wildcats Pink Game for Breast Cancer

9 May
Mentally strong Cotton piles on more history-making numbers
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