Match Report: Wildcats vs 36ers Rnd8 NBL26

The tempo was electric from the outset. Adelaide struck first through Dejan Vasiljević, before the Wildcats quickly settled into rhythm. Jo Lual-Acuil Jr opened Perth’s account with a strong finish inside before Kristian Doolittle and Jaron Rillie began finding gaps in transition.

Adelaide found momentum through Isaac Humphries and Nick Rakocevic, whose work on the offensive glass created second-chance opportunities, but Perth stayed composed.

Ben Henshall provided a spark off the bench, knocking down a smooth jumper before feeding David Okwera for a powerful dunk that the Red Army watching from home would have loved.

Bryce Cotton opened his account against his former teammates with a trademark three to keep the game tight as both sides traded runs.

Dylan Windler found ways to score at will, connecting on key jumpers and controlling the tempo with his poise under pressure.

With time winding down in the first, Rillie drained a confident triple from the wing off a David Duke Jr assist to trim the deficit to one at the break.

The Wildcats continued to match Adelaide’s energy in a free-flowing second term, with both teams finding rhythm on offence.

Jo Lual-Acuil Jr made his presence felt in the paint, protecting the rim and finishing through contact, while Doolittle and Duke Jr began to take control of Perth’s scoring load. Duke Jr showed his versatility, earning trips to the line and stepping out to hit a confident three that gave the Wildcats a brief lead.

The contest became a genuine back-and-forth battle, with Perth answering every Adelaide push. Henshall’s composure stood out again, converting at the stripe before Jesse Wagstaff’s determined drive kept the Wildcats on the front foot.

Sunday Dech added a steadying mid-range jumper against his former club during a key stretch.

Adelaide responded through Cotton and Vasiljević, whose outside shooting reignited the home crowd, but the Wildcats refused to let momentum shift. They went into halftime level in a contest that had already lived up to the pre-game hype.

The shootout continued after the break. Duke Jr and Doolittle found early success around the rim before Lual-Acuil Jr’s turnaround jumper gave Perth a short-lived lead.

The Wildcats’ defence made Adelaide work for everything, but Cotton’s accuracy from deep ensured the 36ers remained in touch.

Sunday Dech gave Perth a lift with a step-back three that silenced the crowd, while Windler continued to make his mark, knocking down mid-range shots and finding teammates in stride as he became a constant problem for the Adelaide defence.

Henshall’s cool free throws and Okwera’s triple from the top of the key showcased the Wildcats’ depth. Elijah Pepper added a timely three late in the quarter, but Cotton’s response gave Adelaide a slender 76–72 lead heading into the final term.

After 35 lead changes and 14 ties through three quarters, the Wildcats saved their best for last.

Perth came out with intent, slowing the pace and dictating terms defensively. Adelaide’s shooters suddenly found fewer clean looks as the Wildcats locked in on every possession.

Duke Jr’s energy sparked the turnaround, with a steal and assist to Doolittle for a crucial three, followed by a Rillie triple from the wing that gave Perth the lead for good. From there, the Wildcats controlled the tempo, executed in the half court, and dominated the glass, holding Adelaide to just 11 fourth-quarter points.

Windler’s all-around performance anchored the Wildcats down the stretch, finishing with 18 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. Cotton hit late buckets for the home side, but it wasn’t enough to halt Perth’s balanced, disciplined close. The Wildcats’ composed finish sealed a statement 94–87 road win.

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