DrinkWise game preview: Round 8 - Wildcats v JackJumpers

Windler, who missed Sunday’s road loss to South-East Melbourne Phoenix due to shin soreness, is averaging 10.7 points and 8.8 rebounds per game in NBL25.

The former Cleveland and LA Lakers forward shot five triples in his last appearance, resulting in a victory over Illawarra last Friday night, with his elite rebounding also important.

Superstar Bryce Cotton will remain sidelined with a rib issue, missing Thursday’s clash against the JackJumpers and Saturday’s away game against Melbourne United at John Cain Arena.

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The JackJumpers beat the Wildcats in an overtime thriller in their only other meeting so far this season, in Hobart in early October.

The team has lost five of their last six matches since that classic encounter, but Wildcats coach John Rillie isn’t taking them lightly.

“They’re the defending champions,” Rillie said.

“They’re not playing at the level that they’d want to be playing so I’m expecting it to be a scrappy dogfight type of game. In a way, kind of like us, they’re just battling through some things.

“Will Magnay didn’t play for them in the last game. We’re all dealing with our own problems. We have to worry about us more than we have to worry about Tassie. If we come out with the spunk that we played with at RAC last time, we are a very good team.”

The Wildcats will wear specially-designed Indigenous jerseys against the JackJumpers.

The jerseys were designed by Pinder’s cousin - Karrajarri, Nuggaja, Noongar, Maori artist Jarnda Bina Councillor-Barns.

Game details

Who: Perth Wildcats vs Tasmania JackJumpers

When: 6.30pm WST Thursday 7 November

Where: RAC Arena

Watch: Live on ESPN via Kayo or Foxtel

Opposition watch

The JackJumpers are currently ninth on the NBL ladder with a 3-7 record.

Speedster Jordon Crawford has been decent for Tasmania, averaging 14.3 points, 3.7 assists and 2.8 rebounds, while fellow import guard Milton Doyle (14 points and 5.8 rebounds) is always dangerous.

Big man Will Magnay will miss again in a significant loss for Tassie.

Last time they met

Milton Doyle was the hero as Tasmania beat the Wildcats in an overtime thriller last month.

Doyle was clutch in the final term to send the game into overtime as the JackJumpers trailed for the majority of the content and finished with a team-high 20 points including a vital late triple.

Majok Deng then sealed victory in overtime with a three-pointer with 25 seconds left.

Bryce Cotton scored a game-high 24 points for the Wildcats, while Kristian Doolittle recorded a 14-point, 14-rebound double-double.