One of the NBL’s biggest rivalries heats up in Round 15 when the Perth Wildcats attempt to close the gap to league leaders the Adelaide 36ers in a top of the table, battle of the west clash. Join The Roar for live scores of the match from 9:30pm (AEDT).
A battle of the NBL’s two western teams always brings with it a bit of extra feeling, but with the two sides sitting at the top of the ladder and this being Perth’s first game back at home after a long road trip, it should have something even more.
When Perth set out on their five-game road trip a month ago, they were a very different team to what we have before us know.
Sitting near the bottom of the table, they were coming off a horrendous 15-point loss at the hands of the Brisbane Bullets and their season looked dead and buried.
Instead, the Perth-based club who haven’t missed the NBL playoffs in 30 years, have turned it around winning three straight with thanks going to the returning Damian Martin and replacement import Bryce Cotton.
Cotton has been absolutely fantastic on court with his offence, while the ususal defensive ways of Martin have risen to the fore. It’s taken pressure off Casey Prather, who is playing out of his skin and returned the Wildcats all the way to second on the table with absolutely no breathing room from the chasing pack.
The 36ers, on the other hand, have been the league’s best team since the mid-way point of the season, the club going on a massive streak and picking up victories in 11 of their last 12 after only winning three of their first nine.
That’s an incredibly impressive record, but even more worrying for other clubs is that their offence only appears to be getting better.
The Adelaide-based club have now put up 100+ points in three straight games, including 117 and 113 last week against the Illawarra Hawks and New Zealand Breakers respectively.
After beating Melbourne United in convincing fashion to get Round 15 underway thanks to 32 points from Nathan Sobey, the 36ers are now just a single win away from realistically securing their place in the playoffs.
In the season series between the sides, the 36ers currently have won two of the three games and hold a slender three-point for and against advantage.
If the Wildcats win by more than three and the teams were to finish with the same end of season record, then they would take the higher spot so there is more than just the win riding on this one.
Prediction
There is no denying exactly how good the 36ers form has been, but playing at the Perth Arena with Damian Martin back in the Wildcats side is a different challenge – one it’s hard to see them passing.
Wildcats by 5.
Be sure to join The Roar for live scores of this rivalry game from 9:30pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add your own comments throughout the course of the coverage.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this evening on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2016-17 NBL Season as the Adelaide 36ers got the better of the Perth Wildcats on the road. Hopefully you enjoyed it. I'll be taking a much-needed break tomorrow, but from Monday it'll be time for the Australian Open to get underway! The Roar will have comprehensive coverage of the first Tennis grand slam of the year. Connor Bennett will take you through the remaining games of Round 15 in the NBL, starting tomorrow with Brisbane vs New Zealand at 3pm (AEDT). Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the match Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
Unsurprisingly, Mitch Creek is man of the match with 16 points and 12 rebounds. By far best on court.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME It's all over here at the Perth Arena and the Wildcats have been blown straight out of The Jungle by double digits. Cotton throws one away and the 36ers dribble the clock down. What a massive victory for the 36ers in the battle of the West. Secures them the season series and realistically, a playoff spot - next step for them will be to secure home cout advantage and then the elusive minor premiership. Mitch Creek was absolutely sensational for Adelaide tonight, keeping them in the game and then with the help of Jerome Randle, Nathan Sobey and Daniel Johnson powering them away through the finish line. Plenty to work on Perth, with their offence completely failing them down the stretch. Perth Wildcats - 84 Adelaide 36ers - 95
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Jacobsen makes one at the strike. Wildcats - 84 36ers - 95
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' All over bar the shouting here (although there has been plenty of that too from the coaches). Kenny makes a shot in the lane, misses another and then Jacobsen gets fouled to go to the line with 11 seconds to go. Wildcats - 84 36ers - 94
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Jacobsen makes both now and that will just about do it. Wildcats - 82 36ers - 94
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' And the Wildcats with a quick miss here that just about kills their chances. Jacobsen fouled hard by Wagstaff at the other end on an ally-oop play. Wildcats - 82 36ers - 92
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Adelaide with it through Randle and he is again taking time off the clock. Down to 5 on the shot clock before he fights through traffc and misses. Wildcats - 82 36ers - 92
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' The 36ers using all sorts of time before missing here before McKay makes a put back dunk for the 'Cats, reducing the lead to 10! Wildcats - 82 36ers - 92
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' There might be a twist left in this one yet. Randle slips and loses it before Wagstaff reduces the lead to 12 with a good shot from the top of the key. Wildcats - 80 36ers - 92
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Prather makes both and cuts the lead to 14. Wildcats - 78 36ers - 92
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Creek misses the extra this time, but then fouls Prather in the hunt for the board. He will walk the floor to shoot free throws. Wildcats - 76 36ers - 92
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Things unravelling for Perth here - Damian Martin misses a shot from the corner before Creek goes off to the races again, ahead of Prather, makes the shot, and draws the foul. Wildcats - 76 36ers - 92
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' My bad - Sobey to shoot free throws. He makes both to send Adelaide up by 14. Wildcats - 76 36ers - 90
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Adelaide almost with a steal here but Sobey loses it over the sideline. Perth with another missed shot here before Creek has it. Off the ball foul against Prather here and it'll be Creek to the line. Wildcats - 76 36ers - 88
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Sobey makes both. Wildcats - 76 36ers - 88
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Adelaide with a quick bucket before Perth turn it over again. Here is a foul down the floor and Trevor Gleeson loses the plot again - SObey to the line. Wildcats - 76 36ers - 86
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Cotton makes both. Wildcats - 76 36ers - 84
Scott Pryde
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Q4 3' Sobey looks for yet another steal here and would have been off to the races, but he got some arm and a foul is called. Cotton to the line. Wildcats - 74 36ers - 84