Wildcats go down to 36ers in Wagstaff's 450th

The Wildcats trailed by just one point late in the final term of captain Jesse Wagstaff's 450th game before the hosts stormed home for their second win of the season.

Big man Keanu Pinder, who had a double-double for the night with 17 points and 13 rebounds to go with five assists, fought gallantly hard to keep Perth in the game.

New Zealander Corey Webster was huge in the first half, scoring 12 of his 14 points before half-time, while his younger brother Tai (12) improved in the second half - including back-to-back threes - before getting fouled out.

The rebounding numbers again told a story with Perth losing that count 51-40 despite Pinder grabbing plenty himself.

The Wildcats endured a slow start, trailing 11-2 before a Bryce Cotton triple got things back on track.

Returning import Kristian Doolittle and Corey Webster hit some important shots from outside the arc as Perth turned a double-digit deficit into a managable 23-20 by quarter-time.

The momentum swung firmly in the Wildcats' favour midway through the second term to take the lead for the first time in the match with four minutes left in the half as Jordan Usher flew into the air for a stunning one-handed jam.

Things tightened up at the defensive end with Doolittle an important presence, while Corey Webster was red-hot with a dozen first-half points - including five of seven from the field - to help his team lead 40-39 at the break.

It was a see-sawing third term with the visitors coming out of the blocks to lead by as much as seven before Adelaide clawed their way back thanks to go up 67-65 at three-quarter time.

The 36ers, led by centre Isaac Humphries who finished with a game-high 26 points to go with eight rebounds, were the better team in the final term on their way to a hard-fought victory.