Match Review: Wildcats v Kings Rnd5 NBL26

The Perth Wildcats will look to bounce back in their second Ignite Cup game on Wednesday when they face the Cairns Taipans, following a road loss to the Kings at Qudos Bank Arena.

Perth came into the game having won six of the past eight meetings with Sydney and despite a cold start from the field, the Wildcats wrestled momentum late in the first quarter. 

After opening 2/15 and trailing 3–9, threes from Dylan Windler, Ben Henshall, Lat Mayen and an instant spark from Jaron Rillie flipped the momentum.

Kristian Doolittle (on his birthday) powered his way to the rim and found his range from long distance, helping Perth close the term on a 22–15 lead.

The arm-wrestle continued through the second quarter, with Elijah Pepper striking from deep and Jo Lual-Acuil Jr scoring in the paint to steady Perth’s offence.

The Red Army also welcomed the return of Sunday Dech, who hit the floor for the first time this season after injury. But a late Sydney run saw the Kings edge ahead 50–45 at half-time.

Perth again responded early in the third through Pepper, Rillie and Lual-Acuil Jr, before tensions rose when Kings coach Brian Goorjian was ejected for a double technical.

Despite the disruption, Sydney maintained control and held an eight-point lead at the final break.

The Wildcats made one last push in the fourth, with Doolittle and Rillie cutting the margin to seven, but with Windler sidelined from the first half, and both Lual-Acuil Jr and Mayen fouling out, Perth’s rotation ran thin and the Kings capitalised to close out the game.

Rillie led the bright spots with 16 points and three assists on 4/7 from three, while Lual-Acuil Jr finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and three assists.

Doolittle added a 14-point double-double.

The Wildcats shot an impressive 15/16 from the free-throw line, but 17 turnovers and limited personnel down the stretch proved decisive.

Head Coach John Rillie said the team will grow from the adversity of the past week:

“We had patches of what we wanted, but we’re not in a rhythm right now. Dylan’s a big piece of who we are, and with Sunday returning and young guys stepping into bigger roles, there are opportunities there, but that comes with growing pains.”

“Sydney brought tremendous physicality. We were asking a lot of inexperienced guys to find a rhythm in a tough environment. But we will get better from this. I love this group, and we’ll move forward.”

Rillie also praised his young guard’s continued rise:

“Jaron shot the ball well and controlled moments, but of course there are times where his inexperience shows, that’s part of the journey. He’s a good player and he’ll keep helping us as he grows.”

Sunday Dech, who made his season debut, said the group must quickly reset ahead of Cairns:

“It felt good to be back out there. We’re still trying to find our rhythm, and we all have to be better, but the focus now is moving forward. Every team is desperate right now, so it’s back to the drawing board, get a good session in, and be ready to fight in Cairns.”

The Wildcats remain on the road to face the Cairns Taipans on Wednesday in the Ignite Cup, before returning home next week in front of the Red Army.

Perth Wildcats 72 (Lual-Acuil Jr 17, Rillie 16, Doolittle 14)
Sydney Kings 94 (Davis 25, Cooks 16, Dellavedova 15)