DrinkWise game preview - Round 7: Wildcats v Phoenix

The Wildcats celebrated Wagstaff’s club record-equalling 482nd game with a hard-fought victory over Illawarra at RAC Arena on Friday night as young gun Ben Henshall stole the show with a career-high 26 points.

A little over 12 hours later and the team was bound for Melbourne for a Sunday afternoon clash against the Phoenix at John Cain Arena.

The Phoenix also prevailed on Friday night in new coach Josh King’s debut, making it three wins from their last four starts, defeating Tasmania by two points.

After being 2-4 and losing superstar Bryce Cotton to a rib issue, Perth are now 4-4 with several players stepping up in their four-time NBL MVP’s absence.

Coach John Rillie said after it “took us a minute to figure some things out”,  he was getting a decent spread of contributors.

Six players reached double-figure points last outing, led by Henshall’s 26.

Dylan Windler (17), Tai Webster (15), Kristian Doolittle (13), Keanu Pinder (13) and Elijah Pepper (13) also stepped up during parts of the game.

“For us to come out and start the way we did was very good. Then, as the game flowed on, we got good contributions from different guys at the right moments when we needed them,” Rillie said after Friday night’s 113-105 win over the Hawks.

“You can see from last week to this week, guys are enjoying playing.

“They’re a good bunch to be around.

“It took us a minute to figure some things out. I think we’re starting to see the rewards of persevering through this right now.”

Rillie said the players were motivated to win the match for their inspirational skipper Wagstaff, which will be another big factor come Sunday when he breaks legend Ricky Grace’s long-standing Wildcats game record.

“I highlighted the fact of what this occasion was to Jesse. The best way we could show our respect was to go out there and perform like he has done for 16 years,” he said.

Game details

Who: Perth Wildcats vs South-East Melbourne Phoenix

When: 11.30am WST Sunday 3 November

Where: John Cain Arena

Watch: Live on ESPN via Kayo or Foxtel

Opposition watch

The Phoenix have won three of their last four games since sacking coach Mike Kelly after a 0-5 start to the season.

Josh King is only one game into his time at the Phoenix, but his team prevailed in a thriller on Friday night in Tasmania to get him going on the right foot.

Last time they met

The Wildcats and Phoenix last met during the season-opening HoopsFest in Perth.

Perth prevailed 106-98 that night at RAC Arena on the back of big man Keanu Pinder (29 points and six rebounds) and Bryce Cotton’s (26 points and four assists) and a huge rebounding effort from Kristian Doolittle (13 boards) and debutant Dylan Windler (10).

Talls Jordan Hunter (19 points and seven rebounds) and Matt Hurt (16 points and 12 rebounds) were the Phoenix’s best.