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Wildcats stun Kings on the road in Wagstaff's 500th

02 Feb
5 mins read

Written By

Jordan McArdle

Perth Wildcats celebrated captain Jesse Wagstaff’s 500-game milestone in style - defeating Sydney Kings on the road on Sunday.

The Wildcats silenced the 15,000-plus crowd at Qudos Bank Arena, leading from start to finish to prevail 104-97 their second win in three days to complete an impressive Round 19.

The win lifts Perth above the Kings in third spot on the NBL ladder with a 17-11 record with one regular-season game left against Adelaide at RAC Arena next Friday night.

The Wildcats had six players in double digits - including all five starters - in an even team performance.

 

 

Four-time NBL MVP Bryce Cotton led the way with 30 points to go with four steals.

Tai Webster (12 points and three assists) was energetic off the bench as he builds form after a long injury absence.

Big men Keanu Pinder (12 points and 10 rebounds) and Kristian Doolittle (16 and eight) continued their strong back end of the season.

Import Dylan Windler was another big performer, finishing with 14 points and a game-high six steals.

 

 

The major differential in the rebounds (46-37), offensive rebounds (23-10) and second-chance points (23-10) counts would’ve also pleased coach John Rillie.

In his second game back from an eye injury, Windler drained an early corner three to get his confidence up after a nice assist from Ben Henshall who was already on the board.

Cotton then had his first points with a short-range floater before an and-one from Henshall.

Windler had his second triple midway through the opening term, this time from way downtown.

Doolittle’s and-one put the Wildcats up 18-8 with 5:30 to go before quarter-time.

Sydney hit back with a run of their own before late three-pointers from Elijah Pepper and Cotton got it back out to a 32-21 lead by quarter-time.

Wagstaff checked in for his 500th game to start the second quarter, in front of family from Canberra.

 

 

His longest current teammate Cotton turned it on not long after, with seven points in less than three minutes to jump to a game-high 12.

Henshall was also in everything, jumping for offensive rebounds and driving to the basket to join Cotton in double digits.

Leading 56-48 at half-time, Windler made it three from three from long-range to put the Wildcats up by 11 early in the third.

The Wildcats were dominating the offensive-rebound count and making the most of it with plenty of second-chance points.

Webster was having a real impact at both ends of the floor in his second back from a hamstring issue.

With the Kings coming back late in the quarter, Wagstaff drew a trademark charge at one end before hitting a three at the other to get the margin back out to 10.

Cotton knocked back his fifth three just before three-quarter time to take his tally to 21 and the Wildcats’ advantage to 85-74.

 

 

That lead was up to 15 by early in the final term as MVP Jaylen Adams fouled out for the Kings.

It didn’t get below double digits in the last as the Wildcats enjoyable a memorable and important victory on the road.

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