NBL27 Round 2 Match Report: Wildcats vs 36ers

Elijah Pepper delivered an unforgettable finish in front of the Red Army, burying the game-winning three to lift the Perth Wildcats to a thrilling 98-97 victory over the Adelaide 36ers at RAC Arena.

The Wildcats trailed by two when Pepper received the ball in the closing seconds and rose from beyond the arc, draining the shot through contact from Bryce Cotton to send the Red Army into a frenzy.

The Wildcats produced a blistering start, with Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. scoring six early points and Anthony Dell’Orso attacking the basket as the home side quickly took control.

Dell’Orso continued to make his presence felt at both ends, while Pepper scored on consecutive drives before Kristian Doolittle connected from deep to stretch the margin to 15 late in the opening quarter.

Adelaide scored the final five points of the term, but Perth carried a 30-20 advantage into the first break.

Dylan Windler opened the second quarter with a dunk and Pepper struck from beyond the arc to keep the Wildcats’ lead at nine before the 36ers gradually worked their way back into the contest.

Nick Rakocevic found success inside and Bryce Cotton began to influence the game as Adelaide erased the deficit, before a Zylan Cheatham tip-in gave the visitors their first lead since the opening minutes.

Dell’Orso responded immediately with a steal and layup, while two Windler free throws returned Perth to the front. Keanu Rasmussen then converted twice at the line in the final seconds to send the teams into half-time locked at 48-48.

Lual-Acuil Jr. led the Wildcats into the main break with 12 points and six rebounds, while Dell’Orso had 11 points, four assists and three steals. Pepper added 10 points as Perth’s starters accounted for 46 of the team’s 48 first-half points.

Adelaide carried its momentum into the third quarter, with Cotton scoring and creating as the visitors established a double-digit advantage.

Perth remained within one following a Pepper three and a three-point play from Doolittle, but a decisive 36ers run stretched the margin to 13 midway through the period.

The Wildcats steadied through Pepper and Angus Brandt before Windler buried consecutive threes to bring the Red Army to its feet and cut the deficit to six.

Cheatham answered from long range, but Pepper scored in the closing seconds to keep Perth within striking distance as Adelaide took a 77-70 lead into the final quarter.

The 36ers pushed the margin back to 10 early in the fourth, but the Wildcats refused to let the game slip away.

Pepper completed a three-point play before Lual-Acuil Jr. followed with one of his own. Dell’Orso then buried a step-back three and scored at the rim to put Perth ahead 83-82, sending the crowd into full voice.

The lead continued to change hands as Doolittle worked on the offensive glass and Windler attacked the basket.

Pepper pushed Perth’s advantage to three before Windler drove to the rim to make it 93-88 with 88 seconds remaining, but Adelaide had one final response.

Cotton connected from deep and Cheatham converted two free throws to level the scores before John Jenkins struck from beyond the arc with seven seconds left, putting the 36ers ahead 96-93.

Lual-Acuil Jr. calmly made two free throws to bring Perth within one. Jacob Rigoni then split a pair at the other end, leaving the Wildcats five seconds to find a winner.

Pepper did exactly that.

The Wildcats guard rose from deep and knocked down the biggest shot of the night, completing an unforgettable comeback and giving Perth its first victory of the Hungry Jack's NBL27 season.

PERTH WILDCATS 98 – ADELAIDE 36ERS 97

Perth Wildcats
Elijah Pepper – 25 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists
Jo Lual-Acuil Jr – 21 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists
Anthony Dell'Orso – 20 points, 6 assists, 3 steals
Dylan Windler – 16 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists
Kristian Doolittle – 12 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists

Adelaide 36ers
Bryce Cotton – 37 points, 9 assists, 4 steals, 7/12 3PT
Zylan Cheatham – 21 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists
Nick Rackocevic – 20 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists

‍