An incredible performance at both ends of the court in the last seven minutes of the game has seen the Perth Wildcats beat the Sydney Kings 76-75 in a heart stopper at the Sydney Entertainment Centre tonight.
The Wildcats fell 11 points down with almost seven and-a-half minutes remaining in the last quarter after Sydney scored the first nine points of the period, but from there the Wildcats simply refused to lie down.
Or here for Sydney coach Ian Robilliard and captain Julian Khazzouh
The 'Cats went on an amazing 12-0 over the next four minutes and when Shawn Redhage hit a long two-pointer at the three-minute mark the 'Cats were up by a point.
The Kings regained the lead through Ben Madgen, but with a minute and-a-half to go Jesse Wagstaff scored to put Perth back on top 76-75. It then came down to Sydney's last possession.
Centre Julian Khazzouh couldn’t score on a drive, but Graeme Dann got the rebound and was fouled. He had the chance to either win the game for the Kings or send it into overtime, but he missed both from the charity stripe and the Wildcats held on to win 76-75.
It is the Wildcats' fifth straight victory this season and just the fourth time that has happened since Rob Beveridge took over as coach to start the 2009/10 NBL season.
The 'Cats now return home to face the Townsville Crocodiles next Saturday night and if victorious it will be the first six-game winning run in Beveridge's time as coach.
Luke Nevill had a big game for the Wildcats down low in the absence of Matt Knight with his calf strain. The 7'2 centre finished with 19 points, four rebounds and three blocks. Nevill also did well in his battle with Khazzouh keeping the Kings centre to 13 points on 5-of-14 shooting from the field.
Redhage and Wagstaff both scored 15 points and came up especially big in the run in the last quarter that proved match-winning. Redhage also had eight rebounds and four assists.
Cam Tovey had a terrific game against his former team with 12 points, six rebounds and two blocks. Brad Robbins was also in good all-round touch with two points, seven assists, four steals, two rebounds and a block.
Kevin Lisch had six points to go with six assists, three boards and two blocks. Drew Williamson scored five points and Jeremiah Trueman two while Damian Martin didn’t score, but had eight boards, five assists and a steal.
Wildcats coach Rob Beveridge was tremendously proud of the way his team's defence down the stretch in the final quarter was once again the catalyst behind them coming away with the win.
"I just spoke in the change rooms about how when you suffer from high blood pressure and high cholesterol these guys put you under the pump, but I have a lot of faith in them. It was around that seven-minute mark when we were down 11 and they just fought hard for each other," Beveridge said.
"I've said that we are really struggling offensively over the last few games and that's something that we have to try and fight through that, but we made a pact as a group that no matter what happens we will play great defence.
"We gave ourselves an opportunity to get back in the game and I was immensely proud. Rather than try to come out and shoot our way back in the game, we will D it up and the guys did a tremendous job with that."
Nevill got the opening basket of the game for the 'Cats and then he combined with Tovey to lead the way for the visitors in the opening period. Nevill had six points as did Tovey, and Wagstaff hit a three, but Sydney scored the last five points to lead 23-17.
Robbins made a big impact early in the second period scoring the first basket and then putting the ball on a platter to Nevill who threw down two big dunks. Wagstaff then hit a three, and Nevill and Tovey another basket each to put the Wildcats 32-26 up.
However, by half-time Sydney had managed to get back in front and led 44-43 after a pair of free-throws from Anatoly Bose.
Redhage put the 'Cats on top again to start the second half, but then the Kings went on a 9-0 run. However, the Wildcats then went on an 8-0 run of their own and things remained tight until Sydney scored the last five points of the quarter to lead 64-62 going into the last period.
Sydney then looked like putting the 'Cats away with the first nine points of the last quarter. They led 73-62 with 7min 24s remaining, but then Wagstaff, Lisch, Nevill and Redhage (three straight baskets) all scored to see the 'Cats regain the lead 74-73 at the three-minute mark before the frantic finish.
Perth Wildcats 76 (Luke Nevill 19, Shawn Redhage 15, Jesse Wagstaff 15)
defeated
Sydney Kings 75 (Jerai Grant 17, Ben Madgen 16, Anatoly Bose 16)
Box scores
