DrinkWise game preview - Round 9: Perth Wildcats v Sydney Kings

The Wildcats are the form team of the competition right now, winning five games in a row to bounce back from a horror 2-5 start and get their finals hopes back on track.

Head coach John Rillie knows his side will have to counter the Kings’ elite speed if they’re to make it six on the trot in front of an expected massive crowd.

“They’re the fastest playing team so we have to address some things,” Rillie said.

“No matter the score, they’re going to play at a fast pace and try to get up a lot of threes. If you take care of that, they are going to attack you to get to the rim. Then they are going to rebound at a high level at the offensive end.”

In-form import Kristian Doolittle, who has been one of the stars of the Wildcats’ five-game winning run, said practice intensity remained high during the FIBA break.

Doolittle hit a season-high 21 points to go with nine rebounds in the come-from-behind win over the Bullets in Brisbane before the break and is averaging 14.25 points and 8.75 rebounds in his last four outings.

“We tried to keep the same intensity we had going into those five games. With a break like we had, it’s easy to fall out of that,” he said.

“I feel like our practices have had high intensity and were very competitive. We’ve been able to maintain that or even grow.

“We do a combination of competitive drills with game-like scenarios rather than full length games. Chopping it up the way that we do makes us have to be more precise. Every possession matters.”

The Wildcats will again be without Corey Webster for the clash, with the veteran sharpshooter sidelined with an ankle injury.

Game Details

Who: Perth Wildcats vs Sydney Kings

When: 6.30pm WST Friday 1 December

Where: RAC Arena

Watch: Live on ESPN via Kayo or Foxtel

Opposition watch

The second-placed Kings will be strengthened by the return of Jaylin Galloway and Jordan Hunter.

Galloway, who’s averaging nearly 12 points per game this season, hasn’t played since October 22 because of a shoulder injury.

Hunter missed the Kings’ loss to Melbourne United due to an ankle issue.

Kouat Noi won’t face the Wildcats due to knee soreness and will be replaced in the line-up by Isaac Gattorna.

Last time they met

A game-high 22 points from Bryce Cotton wasn’t enough as the Wildcats went down 99-86 at Qudos Bank Arena on October 15, ending a winless Round 3 double-header.

Hunter had 20 points and nine rebounds for the Kings, while former NBA player Jonah Bolden reeled in a whopping 15 boards.