The hosts have serious problems. Prediction for the Perth Wildcats vs Adelaide 36ers game
Perth Wildcats
Adelaide 36ers
The Perth Wildcats and Adelaide 36ers will meet on Thursday, September 24, in the second round of the Australian NBL regular season. The game will be played at RAC Arena, with tip-off scheduled for 13:30 CET. I am backing the winner of this game.
H2H and statistical facts
- Perth have lost four of their previous five official games and also opened the new season with a defeat.
- Adelaide started with a win, but had previously lost five consecutive away games.
- Perth have lost just one of their last eight home games against the 36ers.
- Last season, the teams recorded two head-to-head wins each.
Perth Wildcats
The Wildcats made a disastrous start to the new season, losing 79-100 at home to South East Melbourne Phoenix. Perth struggled badly at the beginning of the game, allowing their opponents to build a comfortable lead, before attempting to fight back in the third quarter. The hosts cut the deficit to three points, but could not maintain the high tempo and allowed Phoenix to pull away again in the final period.
The team's main problem was controlling the game without a fully fit point guard. New signing Brandon Knight, brought in to address this issue, has yet to arrive in Australia and is reportedly set to miss the game against Adelaide. Another player, Jaron Rillie, is also unavailable. Head coach John Rillie admits that this places too much pressure on the rest of the roster.
Christian Doolittle was the most convincing player in the opening game. The forward scored 25 points, dished out seven assists and grabbed six rebounds, effectively serving as both the team's primary playmaker and leading scorer. However, that workload became one of the reasons for the team's struggles in the second half, and the Wildcats coach specifically noted that Doolittle needs more support.
Joe Lual-Acuil Jr. added 20 points and eight rebounds, while Elijah Pepper contributed 19 points and three assists. At the same time, several players in the starting five had disappointing outings: Dylan Windler scored just two points, while Anthony Dell'Orso failed to score. Against this backdrop, Perth could once again struggle to organize its offense, especially against Adelaide, who have already shown they can remain disciplined down the stretch.
Adelaide 36ers
Adelaide made a far more convincing start to the season. In the opening round, the team beat Melbourne United 97-95 on the road. The 36ers controlled the game throughout the first three quarters, and when their opponents attempted a comeback in the final period, they managed to preserve their narrow advantage. Adelaide's superiority from beyond the arc proved particularly important: they made 13 three-pointers compared with Melbourne's seven.
The star of the opening game was Bryce Cotton. The six-time NBL MVP scored 29 points and handed out seven assists, knocking down four three-pointers. His experience and ability to take over in key moments helped Adelaide withstand the hosts' pressure. That will be especially important ahead of the trip to Perth, where Cotton is set to face his former club.
Zeylan Cheatham also had a strong game, finishing with 18 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Nick Rakocevic added 14 points and nine rebounds, although he fouled out in the closing stages and had to leave the game early. Isaac White scored 10 points, while Jacob Rigoni was handed an expanded role due to the absence of several key players and responded with eight points and five rebounds.
However, the 36ers' personnel situation is also far from ideal. The team was without John Jenkins III and Isaac Humphries in the opening game, while Flynn Cameron suffered an ankle injury. As a result, roster depth could be a major factor in Perth, especially if the game once again proves to be a physically demanding contest.
What bet should you place?
Adelaide head into the game in a stronger emotional position after beating Melbourne United, while Perth must respond following a heavy defeat. The Wildcats will still be without Brandon Knight, meaning their problems with offensive organization are unlikely to disappear. The 36ers have Bryce Cotton, who can take the initiative himself, as well as a demonstrated ability to handle tense finishes. Taking all factors into account, the visitors deserve the nod, and I am backing them to win.
