Wildcats go down to Kings on the road

The Wildcats started strongly but couldn’t stick with the Kings after half-time, with their season record now 2-3 ahead of another road clash against Adelaide next Saturday.

Three-time NBL MVP Bryce Cotton led Perth’s scoring with 22 points to go with four rebounds, but they were overall well held offensively.

Import Jordan Usher (11 points) was the only other Wildcats to reach double digits, while Tai Webster (six points, five assists and four rebounds) had some good moments in his second game back from a lower-leg injury.

Scores were tied at 39-apiece late in the opening half but the hosts took control from then on with big man Jordan Hunter (20 points and nine rebounds) and MVP Jaylen Adams (18 and six assists) leading the way.

Captain Jesse Wagstaff replaced the injured Kristian Doolittle in the starting five, while Tai Webster came in for his brother Corey.

Perth came out with a real energy and intensity on the way to an 21-9 lead with Cotton at the forefront.

The Kings then went on an 11-nil run late in the opening term to remarkably get in front 28-26 at quarter-time.

After struggling to hit their shots early in the second quarter, the Wildcats found their range midway through with Usher, Corey Webster and Michael Harris getting it done from outside the arc to tie things up at 39-all.

But like they did in the first, Sydney finished the quarter strongly to take a 50-42 buffer into the main break.

The home side’s lead got out to as much as 15 midway through the third term before a fightback from Perth saw them trail 70-62 at three-quarter time and stay in the contest.

Hyrum Harris’ injection into the game late in the third gave the Wildcats a lift, with the New Zealander providing some much-needed physicality.

Fellow recruit David Okwera (five points and three rebounds) also had some important moments, stepping up in Doolittle’s absence in another positive.

But the Wildcats couldn't chip away at the deficit in the final term to fall 13 points short.