Jason Collins
Dailysports's expert
Perth Wildcats
Adelaide 36ers
The NBL regular season is approaching its final stretch, and on February 7, the Perth Wildcats and Adelaide 36ers will face off in a crucial matchup. Here’s our expert prediction for the game.
Perth Wildcats
The Wildcats are in solid form, currently sitting third in the standings, just one win behind second-placed Melbourne United. However, due to tiebreakers, overtaking Melbourne will be difficult. Perth’s last game was a crucial 104-97 road win over Sydney Kings, another playoff contender. The key factor in that win was a dominant first quarter, where they built an 11-point lead. They have now won 7 of their last 9 games, proving their strong form heading into the playoffs.
Adelaide 36ers
The 36ers’ season will be defined by whether they can secure a playoff spot. They currently sit sixth, but their position is not guaranteed. In their last game, they faced South East Melbourne Phoenix and found themselves down by 23 points but staged an incredible comeback, briefly taking a 5-point lead in the third quarter before ultimately falling 99-105.That loss marked their second consecutive defeat. Despite a brilliant performance from Montrezl Harrell (25 points, 11 rebounds), it wasn’t enough to secure the win.
Match Facts
- Perth’s home record: 9 wins, 5 losses.
- Adelaide’s road record: 4 wins, 9 losses.
- Betting odds: Perth – 1.40, Adelaide – 2.95.
Key Player to Watch
- Bryce Cotton (Perth Wildcats) is having a phenomenal season, averaging 28 points per game.
Head-to-Head (H2H)
- Perth and Adelaide have faced off three times this season.
- Perth won all three matchups.
- Each game had a high-scoring total, exceeding 208 points.
Prediction
This is a crucial game for both teams, with Perth fighting for a higher playoff seed and Adelaide battling to stay in the top six. While Perth is favored, Adelaide’s desperation could make this a closer game than expected. Given their motivation and past results, I’m backing Adelaide to cover the +6.5-point spread.
