Playoff-like wins over Kings

The Perth Wildcats third-straight win over the Sydney Kings was Finals-like, according to coach Trevor Gleeson.

The Wildcats last three games have been againt the Kings, and after Thursday’s 73-69 triumph, Perth have claimed all three.

 “It’s hard to beat a team three times in a row, it’s equivalent to sweeping a five-game series in the Finals,” said Gleeson.

“You get complacent, you face the same things, you think you know what you’re doing, but I’m really proud of the guys to get three wins in a row, especially when two of those were in Sydney.”

The game itself was another physical tussle, with both teams struggling to land knockout blows.

Perth trailed with less than two minutes to go, before Bryce Cotton and John Mooney both made clutch buckets inside.

Cotton top-scored with 23 and six assists, while Mooney had 21 to go with 10 rebounds.

“To find a way, a will, to win was first class. The guys stayed together, they were a tight group. They showed their brotherhood out there. They really had to grind that win out.”

Mitch Norton put in another tough effort on the defensive end on Casper Ware, while hitting two clutch fourth quarter buckets to keep the Wildcats in touch.

Todd Blanchfield and Clint Steindl combined for 17 points while Jesse Wagstaff’s 10 rebounds equals a career-best effort from the veteran.

The Wildcats now head to Adelaide to take on the 36ers on Saturday afternoon.

Perth Wildcats 73 (Cotton 23, Mooney 21, Blanchfield 10)

Sydney Kings 69 (Ware 20, Martin 16, Louzada 13)