Usher inspires Wildcats fightback over Breakers

Friday, September 22, 2023

Jordan Usher was inspirational to lead the Perth Wildcats to come back from 17 points down to beat the New Zealand Breakers at the NBL Blitz.

Jordan Usher is going to enter the NBL24 season full of confidence after he inspired the Perth Wildcats to overcome a 17-point deficit to defeat the New Zealand Breakers 93-89 to finish the NBL Blitz.

Making the Usher performance to inspire the comeback victory for the Wildcats better was that it happened with three-time MVP and championship winner Bryce Cotton sitting out the game's final seven minutes.

The 'Cats came into the game still a chance to win the Loggins-Bruton Cup on the back of wins against the Cairns Taipans and Adelaide 36ers, but they did need to win all four quarters against the Breakers.

New Zealand wasn’t about to let that happen and they were on song right from the outset with Parker Jackson-Cartwright running the ship well, Zylan Cheatham finishing emphatically at the rim and Cam Gliddon continuing his hot shooting.

The Breakers raced out to a 12-1 lead in the first three and-a-half minutes before leading 22-12 by the end of one, and still 47-34 by half-time.

The lead for New Zealand blew out to 17 in the third quarter, but the Wildcats weren’t going to be deterred and even after Cotton's night ended early with a knock to his knee, they kept on coming.

It was a six-point deficit still seconds after Cotton went out, but Usher was still there for Perth and knocked down a pair of three-pointers in the space of a minute to put the 'Cats in front with 4:45 to play.

He set up a Ben Henshall dunk soon after to put Perth back in front and while Justian Jessup caught fire to continue to keep the Breakers in the contest, Usher was the difference and sealed the game for the 'Cats after triples from Corey Webster and Henshall.

Usher finished the breakaway dunk after the Wildcats forced a steal on Jackson-Cartwright, then he grabbed a huge rebound when the Breakers point guard missed a tough shot to attempt to regain the lead for his team.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jordan Usher steals it and puts the <a href="https://twitter.com/PerthWildcats?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PerthWildcats</a> ahead with the SLAM ?<br><br>Watch every game live & free via Kayo Freebies ?<br><br>Outside Australia? Watch via ?? <a href="https://t.co/8LoWsbR7E4">https://t.co/8LoWsbR7E4</a> <a href="https://t.co/ExKs5tq7e5">pic.twitter.com/ExKs5tq7e5</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1704819171811364881?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Usher was phenomenal for the Wildcats especially leading the second half fightback to be instrumental in the win finishing with 26 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals on 10/14 shooting from the floor.

Bryce Cotton had 21 points and three assists before going off with the knock to his knee early in the fourth quarter with Alex Sarr showing exciting signs again with the Next Star delivering 12 points and four boards.

Gun signing Keanu Pinder is building back nicely too and finished with nine points, 13 rebounds and two assists ahead of his Wildcats official debut next Friday.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Parker Jackson-Cartwright can handle the rock ?<br><br>The <a href="https://twitter.com/NZBreakers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NZBreakers</a> lead the <a href="https://twitter.com/PerthWildcats?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PerthWildcats</a>, 47-34 at the half ?<br><br>Catch the second half live & free via Kayo Freebies ?<br><br>Outside Australia? Watch via ?? <a href="https://t.co/8LoWsbR7E4">https://t.co/8LoWsbR7E4</a> <a href="https://t.co/WrU3x9KFcu">pic.twitter.com/WrU3x9KFcu</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1704804429956886651?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Cam Gliddon wrapped up a tremendous shooting week at the NBL Blitz for New Zealand with the 319-game veteran hitting four more three-pointers on his way to 14 points and four rebounds.

Finn Delany also had his best game of the Blitz ahead of his return for the Breakers in NBL24 with 15 points and three rebounds with new import point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright also delivering 15 points, 10 assists and three rebounds despite also eight turnovers.

Zylan Cheatham had some stunning highlight finishes once more including an hellacious dunk late in the opening period on his way to 13 points, six rebounds and five assists. Justinian Jessup added 12 points on 4/9 three-point shooting, and 399-game captain Tom Abercrombie 10 points and five boards.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Justinian Jessup is money from deep ?<br><br>Watch every game live & free via Kayo Freebies ?<br><br>Outside Australia? Watch via ?? <a href="https://t.co/8LoWsbR7E4">https://t.co/8LoWsbR7E4</a> <a href="https://t.co/hQydwVQXKe">pic.twitter.com/hQydwVQXKe</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1704817587933081808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Wildcats finish the NBL Blitz undefeated with the wins against Cairns, Adelaide and New Zealand before now turning their attention to hosting the Tasmania JackJumpers next Friday at RAC Arena to open NBL24.

The Breakers are also at home to start the new season on Saturday against the Cairns Taipans.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL BLITZ

PERTH WILDCATS 93 (Usher 26, Cotton 21, Sarr 12)
NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 89 (Jackson-Cartwright 15, Delany 15, Gliddon 14)

BOX SCORE