Wildcats Overcome Breakers to Celebrate Homecoming

The New Zealand Breakers threatened to spoil the return party, but the Red Army got what they were after in the finish with their Perth Wildcats celebrating their return to RAC Arena with Sunday's 95-85 win.

The 'Cats were back in The Jungle for the first time since December 19 and arrived on a five-game winning streak and in second position on the NBL table, but the Breakers weren’t interested in handing them anything.

Afterall, the Breakers won't be getting home at all this season so there was no room for sentiment. They were also at full strength for just the third game in #NBL22 and coming off a couple of impressive performances as a result.

The two teams played out a classic overtime battle in Hobart on Monday with Bryce Cotton the hero at the death, but the Breakers built on that to start on fire on Sunday. They raced to a 20-10 lead after five minutes and were up 34-28 by quarter-time.

However, Perth worked their way on top eventually despite still being down six at half-time. The 'Cats turned that into a five-point lead heading into the fourth and then continued to pull away for the 10-point win even though there was some nervous moments late minus Mitch Norton.

Vic Law put up another huge game for the Wildcats with 26 points, 12 rebounds and three assists with partner-in-crime Bryce Cotton delivering 25 points and six assists.

Todd Blanchfield added 14 points, Luke Travers nine points and six boards, and Majok Majok eight points, 12 rebounds and four assists.

Wildcats coach Scott Morrison was happy that his team found a way to get on top of the Breakers.

"I've got to give New Zealand a lot of credit. They picked us apart to start the game and they're a really good team," Morrison said.

"They just destroyed our pick-and-roll defence and just lucky for us we were able to hit some tough shots and make a couple of small adjustments that helped us a little bit. 

"At the end of the day we're just lucky they missed some of those good looks that they got. That's two games in-a-row now where I think they attacked us very impressively."

There was a lot to like from the Breakers with Yanni Wetzell producing 15 points and six rebounds, Finn Delany 14 points, Peyton Siva 13 points and nine assists, Tom Abercrombie 12 points, and Will McDowell-White 11 points and five assists.

The Breakers did a lot to like, but as coach Dan Shamir was quick to point out, it wasn’t enough to win.

"We weren't good enough and internally it kind of feels like we're in the beginning of the season," Shamir said.

"For the last few games we've had the players that we were missing and it feels like we are playing better, and we've got more options on all aspects. 

"If somebody doesn’t play well then we can go to somebody else, and I thought last game was a very high level game and in some moments this one was also a good one, but unfortunately not good enough."

It was a stunning opening from the Breakers with early triples to Tom Abercrombie and Finn Delany. They then went on a 9-0 sparked by Hugo Besson to be up 17-8, and then 20-10 when Peyton Siva connected from three five minutes into the contest.

Ousmane Dieng and Will McDowell-White both hit threes and Rob Loe hit four quick points to ensure New Zealand still led 34-28 by the end of one.

The Breakers were still feeling it and led by nine again when McDowell-White nailed another from downtown early in the second period.

Perth tried to will themselves back into the contest but New Zealand still held a 49-43 advantage by half-time.

The Wildcats opened the second half with two strong finishes from Majok Majok but the Breakers stayed on top with a couple more triples from Delany.

However, it was then time for Perth to put their foot down. Todd Blanchfield and Bryce Cotton hit threes as part of a run of 18-9 to close the third quarter and see the home team up 69-64.

It was then all the Wildcats for most of the fourth quarter including them going on a run of scoring 13 straight points to blow it out to a 16-point lead before they won by 10.

The Wildcats still have eight more home games to finish the season with starting Thursday night against the Tasmania JackJumpers. The Breakers are next up on Thursday as well against the Brisbane Bullets in Cairns.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 16

PERTH WILDCATS 95 (Law 26, Cotton 25, Blanchfield 14)

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 85 (Wetzell 15, Delany 14, Siva 13) 

BOX SCORE