The Perth Wildcats and Adelaide 36ers continue their rivalry as they go head-to-head at the Perth Arena. Join The Roar for live scores and updates from 9:25pm (AEFT).
The Wildcats are playing their second game of the week, after coming off a disappointing 99-78 loss to the New Zealand Breakers on Wednesday night. Jermaine Beal top scored for Perth with 23 points, while Matt Knight pulled down 12 rebounds.
For the 36ers, this is their first game since last Friday, when they held off the Cairns Taipans for an 88-83 win. Jerome Randle was on fire that night, scoring 28 big points on 10 from 20 shooting from the field.
The two sides have met twice this season – in Round 7, the Wildcats won 94-88 in Adelaide, while all the way back in Round 1 the score was 79-66, once again in favour of the Wildcats. Tonight marks the two teams’ first meeting in Perth this season.
Adelaide are again without key big man Matt Hodgson, who is recovering from a knee injury suffered at training last week. Hodgson missed the 36ers’ win against the Taipans and according to the 36ers official website, the St Mary’s alum won’t be back until late December.
For Perth, skipper Damian Martin had his reconstructed jaw and teeth hit by New Zealand Breakers point guard Cedric Jackson on Wednesday night, putting his availability up in the air.
This contest features two of the NBL’s most talented imports, with Adelaide dynamo Randle squaring off against Perth’s proficient guard Beal – a mouthwatering match-up for any basketball fan. Randle is averaging 22.3 points and 4.6 assists per game this season, while Beal is averaging a hair under 16 points (15.93) and 4.07 assists.
The game result will hinge on which team’s shooting guard dictates the scoring and tempo.
Prediction
The Wildcats controlled the first two meetings between the teams this season, and there is no reason to think things will be different tonight.
While Adelaide were impressive in Cairns last week, the loss of Hodgson may be too big to overcome against Perth’s intimating front line of Matt Knight and Nathan Jawai.
Perth will find peace playing in front of their home court and will bounce back after Wednesday night’s embarrassment.
Wildcats by 8.
Join The Roar from 9:25pm (AEDT) for live scores and game updates, and be sure to voice your opinion on the game if you’re watching.
Luke Sicari
Roar Guru
So that wraps it up from Perth. Thanks for following along and be sure to check The Roar daily for all the NBL news you need!
Luke Sicari
Roar Guru
Some notable numbers from the game: Perth held a 41-26 advantage on the glass. That included 17 offensive rebounds which lead to 17 second chance points for the Wildcats. The Sixers had zero second chance points and only 4 offensive boards. Perth was zipping the ball around all night, finishing with 22 assists on 29 made field goal attempts. On the other hand, the 36ers had only 11 assists on 25 made baskets 9 steals for the Wildcats helped contribute to 16 Adelaide turnovers on the night The Wildcats had 42 points in the paint while Adelaide only had 20.
Luke Sicari
Roar Guru
For the 36ers, Jerome Randle top scored with 18 points while Anthony Petire had 17 Nathan Sobey finished with 11 off the bench
Luke Sicari
Roar Guru
Casey Prather was the star tonight. He finished with 23 points including multiple highlight reel dunks. Jesse Wagstaff was big off the bench with 16 points while Jermaine Beal and Matty Knight both had 13 points apiece
Luke Sicari
Roar Guru
The Wildcats finish up a wire-to-wire victory here. They dominated from start to finish with their bigs overpowering the Sixers bigs down low. The final score here at the Perth Arena: Perth Wildcats 90 def the Adelaide 36ers 72
Luke Sicari
Roar Guru
Perth building the lead at the charity strip 90-72 Perth
Luke Sicari
Roar Guru
Randle would be in there for sure. Seems to be resting this quarter, no point in playing him. The game is cooked
Luke Sicari
Roar Guru
Sobey has found some rhythm here. His got 11 after the jumper 86-72 Perth
Luke Sicari
Roar Guru
The 36ers run off a turnover and Sobey finishes with the lay-in plus the foul. Little bit of energy from Adelaide here but too little too late. Sobey misses the freebie 86-70 Perth
Luke Sicari
Roar Guru
Mitch Creek with the floater 86-68 Perth
Luke Sicari
Roar Guru
Hire with a tough lay-in and Perth continue to build their lead here 86-66 Perth
Nudge
Guest
Randel would have to get a mention too wouldn't he? Not sure where he's been this quarter
Luke Sicari
Roar Guru
Greg Hire hits one of two free throws 84-66 Perth
Luke Sicari
Roar Guru
The incident at the end of the first half was the game changer tonight. Those 3 free throws from the Wildcats pushed the lead to 10 and they didn't look back.
Luke Sicari
Roar Guru
Another timeout here. 2:54 left in the game, 83-66 Perth in cruise control
Luke Sicari
Roar Guru
Sobey with the tough finish 83-66 Perth
Luke Sicari
Roar Guru
Jervis tips in a Prather miss 83-64 Perth
Luke Sicari
Roar Guru
His had some nice games but overall, probably need impact from your primary bench scorer, if you can even call him that this season
Luke Sicari
Roar Guru
Definitely agree with you man...Perth have dominated down low tonight. 15 Perth offensive rebounds tells the story
Luke Sicari
Roar Guru
I would probably put him ahead of Goulding. To me, Prather has been more consistent