NBL27 Round 3 Pink Game Match Report | Wildcats vs Phoenix

The Perth Wildcats have made it three straight wins, holding off South East Melbourne Phoenix 92-88 at RAC Arena on Friday night.

In the club's10th annual Pink Game supporting Breast Cancer Care WA, the Wildcats led at every break but were never able to shake a Phoenix side that continued to respond throughout the night.

With the scores tied deep into the fourth quarter, Perth repeatedly made the big plays when the game demanded them, before Dylan Windler and Elijah Pepper helped close out the contest from the free-throw line.

Nathan Sobey wasted little time getting Phoenix on the board, attacking the basket inside the opening 10 seconds, with Dylan Windler immediately answering from beyond the arc at the other end for Perth.

The opening exchanges set the tone for what would become a tight contest, with neither side able to establish any significant separation.

Anthony Dell’Orso provided an early spark for the Wildcats, bringing energy at both ends of the floor, scoring seven first-quarter points as Perth began to settle into the game.

There was another lift midway through the term when Jaron Rillie checked into the game for his first appearance of NBL27.

South East Melbourne continued to find answers through Skylar Mays, but Perth finished the opening quarter with growing momentum.

Kristian Doolittle began to impose himself on the contest late in the term, connecting from beyond the arc before combining with Pepper on the following possession.

Doolittle struck again from deep inside the final minute to push the margin to five, as Angus Glover responded for Phoenix to leave the Wildcats 26-24 ahead at quarter-time.

‍

The arm wrestle continued in the second quarter.

South East Melbourne erased Perth’s advantage and briefly moved ahead as the lead began to change hands, every Phoenix push was met with a Wildcats response.

Dell’Orso and Doolittle continued to find ways to score, while Rillie grew into the contest after his return to the floor and young guard Marley Sam provided defensive energy.

With the margin never stretching beyond a handful of points, the closing stages of the half became a possession-by-possession battle.

Phoenix edged ahead late until Pepper connected from the corner to level the scores at 42-42. He then drew a foul from beyond the arc and converted all three free throws to put Perth back in front.

South East Melbourne regained the lead once more, but the final moment of the half belonged to Jesse Wagstaff.

Rillie found the veteran beyond the arc and Wagstaff buried the three with 25 seconds remaining, sending the Wildcats into half-time with a 48-46 advantage.

Perth made the stronger start after the main break, with Dell’Orso and Windler helping the Wildcats establish a six-point advantage.

Phoenix again fought their way back, but Doolittle continued to steady Perth with his scoring and playmaking before Glover's three briefly put the visitors ahead 62-61.

The lead continued to swing late in the quarter. Schwartz levelled the scores at 64-64 until Pepper answered from deep, only for Aliir to tie it again with a three of his own.

Dell’Orso had the final say, finishing through contact and converting the free throw to give Perth a 70-67 lead at three-quarter time.

The tight contest continued into the fourth as Phoenix again threatened to take control, with Daniels tying the scores at 76-76 from beyond the arc.

Hunter's three brought Phoenix within one late, but Perth produced important plays at both ends. Wagstaff found Windler cutting to the basket, Pepper picked off Mays on consecutive defensive possessions and Doolittle stripped Sobey to give the Wildcats momentum.

Dell’Orso's two free throws gave Perth a four-point buffer with 41 seconds remaining, from there, the Wildcats held their nerve at the line.

Windler and Pepper both made clutch free throws in the final minutes to seal a 92-88 victory and Perth's third consecutive win.

BOX SCORES