In what shapes as the most lopsided encounter of the season, a Perth Wildcats side gunning for the minor premiership plays host to the Sydney Kings, who have lost their last five. Join The Roar for live scores from 9:30pm (AEDT).
Perth played out one of the most entertaining games of the season in their last match, against Melbourne. The Wildcats came from behind to send the game to overtime, but Stephen Holt was too much to handle.
Despite the narrow defeat, the bookies have installed Perth as $1.05 favourites for this one, giving the Kings a massive 15.5-point start.
Sydney lost both of their games on their Sunshine Swing last week, although to their credit they were very much in with a chance deep into the fourth. As has been characteristic of their season, a couple of players got hot, while others didn’t help their teammates out.
It’s not often you see teams as heavily favoured as Perth are to beat Sydney, but there is a good reason why – the Kings simply cannot handle the Wildcats.
Perth have won both encounters this year, by 18 and 27 points respectively. The bad news doesn’t end there for Kings fans though.
Perth have won 19 of the 20 matches between the teams since Sydney was reinstated into the competition, including every meeting in the west, where Sydney hasn’t got within double digits of the Wildcats since 2010.
As for this season, the Kings led their clash in Sydney by double digits during the third term, before they capitulated in the final quarter. In the most recent game, the Kings trailed by just a basket at halftime, before they offered no resistance in the second half to go down heavily.
Defensive pressure is all Perth needs to win this match. Sydney have crumbled time and time again when teams pressure the dribbler and shut down their options, and give up far too many turnovers when opponents employ a press.
Perth have the firepower to blow the Kings out of the water early, and send a statement to Melbourne that they’re not out of the minor premiership race.
Sydney need to hang tough. Perth will come out all guns blazing, and if the Kings are to have the slightest chance of pulling off the upset of the season, they’ll have to keep up for the entire 40 minutes. But the way they’ve performed in the west suggests that they’ll struggle to stay with them for 20.
Prediction
Perth will use this game to fine-tune rotations and get key players in form for the business end of the season.
Wildcats by 22.
Join The Roar for live scores of this NBL Round 18 match from 9:30pm (AEDT), and don’t forget to leave a comment if you’re following along.
Sean Teuma
Roar Guru
That's me signing off for the night. There's still two more matches to come this weekend, with New Zealand v Cairns a game that will shape the playoff picture.
Sean Teuma
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A lot of Perth's bench players got big minutes tonight, with not one starter playing over 21 minutes. It didn't prove a problem as Tom Jervis and Jesse Wagstaff stepped up to post some impressive numbers. They sealed second spot and most importantly a home semi with tonight's win, and with an easy run into the playoffs, they can rest some of their big names in the upcoming games. Sydney hung tougher than most people thought they would. Josh Childress was superb, dropping 30, and Brandt played a nice cameo as well. But the fact of the matter is their roster just isn't up to playoffs standard, and unless big changes happen in the off-season, they'll be hanging around the bottom of the ladder next season as well.
Sean Teuma
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FULL TIME LEADERS POINTS - Childress 30, Jervis 23, Wagstaff 23 REBOUNDS - Jervis 13, Wagstaff 9, Brandt 7 ASSISTS - Jervis 6, Martin 5, Cadee 4
Sean Teuma
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FULL TIME STATS FIELD GOAL % - Perth 48, Sydney 45 REBOUNDS - Perth 38, Sydney 19 ASSISTS - Perth 29, Sydney 13 STEALS - Perth 6, Sydney 6 TURNOVERS - Perth 14, Sydney 12
Sean Teuma
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FULL TIME An undermanned Sydney were gallant, but they were just no match for a Wildcats side sealing another finals birth, giving them the world record for most consecutive finals appearances in any sport. Perth 95 Sydney 81
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Q4 - 0' Childress fouled by Wagstaff. He converts one from the stripe. Perth 95 Sydney 81
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Q4 - 1' Brandt makes a pair before subbing out. Perth 95 Sydney 80
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Q4 - 1' Jervis again with the hook. He's got 23 and a new career high. Perth 95 Sydney 78
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Q4 - 1' Jervis with the sweet reverse lay-up. He's been strong tonight in the paint. Perth 93 Sydney 78
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Q4 - 2' Jervis drew the double and found Hire who nailed the three. Brandt then converts with the hook shot. That gives him 14 Perth 91 Sydney 78
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Q4 - 3' Jervis bucket, Wagstaff assist. These two have been superb tonight. Perth 88 Sydney 76
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Q4 - 3' Another Perth turnover. Childress with the steal this time and will shoot a pair. He makes both. Perth 86 Sydney 74
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Q4 - 4' Carter makes the steal before travelling on the drive to the rim. Perth 86 Sydney 72
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Q4 - 4' Carter knocks down a three. Perth 86 Sydney 72
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Side note.... Perth having their cheerleaders dance around the opposition bench in the final quarter is just plain tacky. They're a better organisation than that.
Sean Teuma
Roar Guru
Q4 - 5' Brandt gets fouled by Wagstaff and makes one from the line. Perth 86 Sydney 69
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Q4 - 5' Redhage gets to the line and makes both. That gives him 16 for the game. Perth 86 Sydney 68
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Q4 - 6' Redhage with the bank shot after a nice spin move. Perth 84 Sydney 68
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Q4 - 6' Redhage runs a perfect line into the paint and converts, before Childress hits another three. He's got 26 Perth 82 Sydney 68
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Q4 - 7' Wagstaff is full of confidence, getting to the line. He splits them. Perth 80 Sydney 65