DrinkWise game preview - Wildcats v Breakers

The Wildcats embarked on the longest road trip in the NBL on Friday, Perth to Auckland via Sydney, ahead of facing the Breakers who are coming off a massive trip of their own.

Both teams have two wins in NBL25, although the Breakers have only three games due to an in-season trip to the US to face three NBA outfits.

The entire Wildcats squad travelled to New Zealand, giving head coach John Rillie a rare luxury this season.

Rillie admits he's still working out what the best mix is after having a healthy list for the first time since HoopsFest, with big man Keanu Pinder set to return from concussion protocols after missing last Thursday's road win over Cairns.

“We’ve had a good number of practices this week with everyone on the court so that’s good. We’re trending in the right direction,” Rillie said.

“When you put a roster together, you always think about how the pieces will work together. We haven’t had that.

“In saying that, the younger group of players on our team have had great experience against some of the elite teams in this competition. It’s been a good baptism by fire for those guys. I think as we work through our season and work to our best, these things allow you to achieve that hopefully a little quicker.

“Now the trick is for me to figure out what the rotations are, who needs to be on the floor with each other and so forth. But to have everyone available is the exciting part of it all.”

The Wildcats will spend all of Friday travelling to New Zealand with the team leaving Perth at 10.25am, stopping in Sydney for two hours and not landing in Auckland until 12.30am.

It's the longest trip regular-season of import Dylan Windler's basketball career, which includes more than 100 NBA appearances.

The team will remain in Perth time like they did last season in a bid to combat the heavy travel load.

“It’s more than I’ve had to do in the NBA,” Windler revealed.

“The furthest you have to go from coast to coast in the States is four or five hours max. And the accommodation in the NBA is a little better because you’re on charter flights so you get right on the plane, get right off the plane and go straight to the hotel. Even if you’re going coast to coast it’s only five or six hours in total.

“Going from here to New Zealand, we have two five hour flights, days in the airport, there’s a time change and you’re on commercial flights.

“We’re making sure we’re figuring out our sleep schedules. We’ll stay on Perth time, body clock wise. The time will be a little funky but we’ll try to stay on Perth time.”

Game details

Who: Perth Wildcats vs New Zealand Breakers

When: 2.30pm WST Saturday 19 October

Where: Spark Arena

Watch: Live on ESPN via Kayo or Foxtel

Opposition watch

The Breakers have had a decent start to the NBL25, albeit interrupted due to their US trip, winning two out of three games.

Speedy guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright has once again been a leading contributor for the Breakers, averaging 19.67 points per game to go with a competition-high eight assists.

Rillie labelled Jackson-Cartwright as a player the Wildcats needed to stop if they were to come home with a win.

Last time they met

The Wildcats and Breakers last faced off in February at RAC Arena, with the visitors coming away with an 89-78 victory.

Keanu Pinder (21 points and 15 rebounds) and Kristian Doolittle (10 points and 12 rebounds) were the Wildcats' best, both finishing with double-doubles, while import Zylan Cheatham scored a game-high 24 points for New Zealand.