DrinkWise game preview - Round 6: Wildcats v Kings

Four-time NBL MVP Cotton was ruled out on Thursday morning with a rib issue before Webster followed suit a few hours late in a double blow for the Wildcats’ hopes of turning around a one-point loss against the Kings last month.

It means Nominated Replacement Player Todd Withers and DP Dontae Russo-Nance come into the line-up, while Ben Henshall, Elijah Pepper and Michael Harris are all in the mix for the two starting guard spots.

Rillie said it was also up to imports Dylan Windler and Kristian Doolittle to “pick up some slack” in the absence of Cotton and Webster.

“It’s going to have to be a group effort and an accumulation,” Rillie said.

“The likes of Pepper and Henshall with their scoring ability, we will need that. Then there’s someone like Dylan Windler. Doolittle can pick up some slack. There will be other people that get the opportunity. It’s going to be really exciting for me to see how this unfolds.

“Injury is a part of sport. It’s very disappointing for Bryce to have this. He is an integral piece of our team but now the opportunity and challenge is for everyone else to take what’s in front of them. That’s what I’m excited about. Guys will get opportunity and we get to see how we perform as a team without Bryce.

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“The gravity that Bryce commands whether the ball is in his hands or out of his hands is astronomical. So the shots will not certainly be the same but our general structure remains the same.”

Rillie said Withers, who also replaced Windler while he was sidelined with an Achilles issue earlier in the season, being around the group since pre-season would help when he’s called upon on Friday night.

“Todd has been with us through the off-season and then had limited opportunities with Dylan’s injuries earlier in the season,” Rillie said.

“But he’s with us every day so he’s very familiar with how we operate and he knew that these are the opportunities that are afforded to him and he’s been the recipient of those very early on.”

Game details

Who: Perth Wildcats vs Sydney Kings

When: 6.30pm WST Friday 25 October

Where: RAC Arena

Watch: Live on ESPN via Kayo or Foxtel

Opposition watch

The Kings have started strongly to NBL25 as expected, sitting pretty with a 5-2 record.

But like Perth, they have been hit by injury with MVP Jayden Adams out with a back injury.

Last time they met

Just one point separated the Kings and Wildcats last time they met, less than a month ago at RAC Arena.

The Kings prevailed that day on the back of Adams’ game-high 27 points and six assists and strong performances from Xavier Cooks (22 points and six rebounds) and Cam Oliver (18 points and six rebounds).

Windler did his bit, amassing a staggering 16 rebounds, while Doolittle (21 points and eight rebounds) and Cotton (20 points) were impressive before Pepper’s (18 points) stunning late three-point barrage nearly stole the game for the Wildcats.