Match Report: Wildcats v Taipans Rnd4 NBL26

The Perth Wildcats were made to earn every inch in Cairns, overcoming a spirited Taipans outfit 80–77 in a game that went down to the final shot.

Jo Lual Acuil Jr. led from the front, powering to 30 points and 10 rebounds in a Player of the Game performance, while Dylan Windler continued his impressive form with 26 points and 6 rebounds of his own, in a night that showcased Perth’s poise under pressure.

The Wildcats came out locked in from the opening tip. Lual Acuil Jr. opened the scoring within seconds before Kristian Doolittle and Mason Jones joined in to give Perth a 7–2 start. Jones, full of early energy, absorbed contact to complete a three point play while Windler attacked the rim as Perth hit five of their first seven shots.

Cairns struggled to connect early, missing from deep as Perth’s defence smothered their rhythm. But after a timeout the Taipans began to find their footing. Marcus Lee and Jack McVeigh combined to chip away at the lead and a burst of outside shooting saw Cairns edge in front late in the quarter.

Jaron Rillie responded with confidence for the Wildcats, driving inside to level the scores 23–23 as the opening term came to an end, a sign this would be a game of runs.

Despite Perth’s effort, Cairns’ second chance opportunities kept them in front to begin the second quarter. The Taipans pulled down nine offensive boards before halftime and found rhythm through Smith and McVeigh, forcing a Wildcats timeout with a nine point edge.

Windler’s aggression to the basket and a composed three point shot from Jones closed the gap, while JLA’s inside presence remained a constant threat. By the main break, Cairns led narrowly 43–41 after a first half defined by intensity and execution at both ends.

Neither team gave an inch through the third quarter. Perth’s defence lifted and Lual Acuil continued to anchor the attack, Jones drew fouls to keep the scoreboard ticking and Windler found his shooting touch from long range.

The Taipans refused to back down, answering each Perth push with timely scores of their own.

When the buzzer sounded to end the third, the Wildcats held the slimmest of leads 61–60, setting up a thrilling finish.

Cairns struck first with back to back buckets including a three that pushed them four points clear, but Lual Acuil answered instantly before Windler exploded as the final term belonged to the two Wildcats stars.

Windler nailed a long range three, then attacked inside on consecutive possessions to give Perth a five point lead, taking his tally to 25 and shifting the momentum squarely onto Wildcats terms.

Marcus Andrews momentarily halted the surge for Cairns with a four point play, igniting a back and forth battle between he and Windler as the clock wound down. With under three minutes to play, Cairns led by two, but the Wildcats again found a response.

Lual Acuil powered through contact for a put back to level it, then added another to put Perth ahead. When he calmly drained two free throws to stretch the lead to four, it felt like the defining moment. JLA wasn’t done, another put back gave him 30 points and 10 rebounds on the night, sealing the player of the game performance in the fourth quarter.

The Taipans hit one final shot to cut the margin to two with seconds remaining, but with Windler fouled on the inbound, converting one of two at the line, made it a three point game.

Cairns had one last look as Andrews launched a deep attempt to tie it, falling short and giving the Red Army a win on the road to celebrate, taking their record to 3-1 for the early stages of the season.

It was a hard fought road win built on composure when it was needed and two standout performances from Lual Acuil and Windler. The duo combined for 56 points, with Jones, Doolittle and Rillie providing vital support in a night that again underlined Perth’s depth and resilience.

The Wildcats now have their third straight win as the team keeps finding ways to deliver when it matters most.

BOX SCORES

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The Wildcats return home to RAC Arena to face the Brisbane Bullets, Wednesday 15 October.