Perth Wildcats vs NZ Breakers: Monday Preview

Game Details
Perth Wildcats vs NZ Breakers
4.30pm WST Monday 14 March @ Nissan Arena
Watch LIVE on ESPN – available via Kayo or Foxtel

Context
This will be the third game of the Perth Wildcats triple-header round. It also represents their final road game of the season – their 14th consecutive away from Perth. However, it won’t be played on their opponent’s home court either, with the Breakers calling Tasmania home for the time being due to COVID. The Wildcats are 8-5 on the road and 12-6 for the season – which sees them in second position on the ladder. The NZ Breakers have had a tough run and sit on four wins from 17 games. This will be the first matchup between the Wildcats and Breakers this season.

Pre-game words
Scott Morrison on his team’s road record.
“Our goal is to be 9-5 on the road. It’s not going to be easy, I told the guys in the locker room and different people have heard me say this through the season, New Zealand are one of the teams I’ve been the most scared of all season. I think they’re really talented, they have a good back court, a good front court. They’ve had tough luck, which hasn’t made things easy for them but I believe they’re back at full strength today, so we’re going to get their best effort and we better be ready to play or they’ll jump all over us.”

Roster Availability 
No change expected from the team that defeated Brisbane on Sunday. Kevin White, Matt Hodgson and Corey Shervill remain unavailable.

Opponents to watch out for
The Breakers welcomed back stars Will McDowell-White, Yanni Wetzel and Hugo Besson this weekend. Wetzell leads the Breakers in both points and rebounds with 16.9 and 7.0 per game. Besson is being touted as a potential NBA player next year, averaging 14.4 points per game.

Last time they met
It was last season, in May 2021. The Wildcats won 98-84 on the back of a Bryce Cotton 32-point 10-assist double-double. It was one of his five career double-doubles.

Fun Facts and Stats
Perth are looking to make it five-straight wins to close-out their monster away stretch.
Bryce Cotton leads the league in scoring with 23.2 points per game, while Vic Law is fourth with 20.1 points per game.
Last three games by Perth have averaged a League best 94.7 points per game.
Last three games by New Zealand averaged a league low 73.3 points per game 
Jesse Wagstaff joins Adam Gibson as the players that has played against the Breakers the most times in their career. Wagstaff already has 30 wins against the Kiwis
Bryce Cotton owns the second and third highest points totals by a Wildcat against the Breakers, but top-spot belongs to James Harvey for his 37-point game way back in December 2003.

History
These two teams have met in three Grand Final series, with the Wildcats claiming the most recent one in 2016.
The Breakers have won two of their last three clashes with the Wildcats, but Perth have take seven of their last 10.