Double Kings blow losing to 'Cats, injury to DJ

A ninth straight win is still an impressive feat no matter how it comes and the Perth Wildcats would have left Qudos Bank Arena relieved on Thursday with the Sydney Kings devastated to lose again and to lose rookie DJ Vasiljevic in the process.

The two teams were meeting for the third time this NBL season in little over a week and with the natural tension still there from the Grand Final of last year, this was yet another contest full of passion and tension – if not necessarily sparkling offensive output from either team in the second half.

It was the end result that mattered and it was the Wildcats that won 73-69 to make it a fourth triumph over the Kings this season as defending champions which is still a fact that rankles those involved with Sydney.

Those frustrations are only growing within the Kings following another loss to the Wildcats on Thursday night on their home floor in a game that they will feel frustrated to have dropped.

The Kings had all the momentum to start the fourth quarter with seven quick Didi Louzada points to see them lead by four. They were still four up minutes later but the Wildcats would finish on a 13-5 run to claim the four-point win.

Jarell Martin had a good look at tying scores on an open three, but on a night where neither team shot well, it was perhaps fitting it was an air ball and the Wildcats won by four to make it nine wins on the trot as they chase a championship three-peat.

Bryce Cotton and John Mooney did prove match winners again for Perth but they did struggle in the second half to only combine for 14 points on 6/19 shooting. But they made plays when it mattered with Cotton finishing with 23 points and six assists, and Mooney 21 points and 10 rebounds.

Todd Blanchfield was another to struggle shooting for Perth going just 3/10 from the field and 2/8 from deep but he still had 10 points and four steals while Mitch Norton had seven points and four rebounds, and Clint Steindl seven points.

Wildcats coach Trevor Gleeson was proud of his team's will to win in the finish even if it wasn’t the prettiest performance.

"I thought it was going pretty well at half-time and then in the third quarter it was a really big struggle. Some of the shots we were wide open for but we just couldn’t buy a basket during that period," Gleeson said.

"We got a couple of going when we went to the basket but I can't fault the execution in getting the shots. But it was a tough, physical game so maybe that was a part of it but we had some great looks. 

"You are going to have to find different ways to win and the grit that we showed as a team to find a will to win was first class."

Shooting 27/71 from the floor, 6/34 from deep and having 15 turnovers wouldn’t usually be Sydney's recipe for success, but Perth's numbers were similar to give them a sniff still of that elusive win over the 'Cats.

Jarell Martin threatened to be a match-winner but foul trouble hindered his night holding him to just 18 minutes. He still had 16 points and nine rebounds.

Casper Ware top-scored with 20 points on 5/17 shooting while Didi Louzada scored 13 points and Tom Vodanovich 10.

As tough as the loss was to take, the news of an Achilles injury to Rookie of the Year fancy DJ Vasiljevic was even worse. Post-match, coach Adam Forde confirmed the worst.

"It's a full rupture and we really feel for him. We're organising surgery now and we are absolutely gutted for him," Forde said. 

"We are obviously going to be in his corner at the moment but he's mentally tough so he's handling the whole situation really well. But it's just all about DJ right now and about making sure we get him in the best situation to be able to bounce back from this as soon as possible."

The Kings big men Jarell Martin and Jordan Hunter helped the home team to an early 6-2 lead and then Martin knocked down a triple as well to make 13-8. 

Sydney's lead would grow to seven but a three to Bryce Cotton, and a pair of them to Todd Blanchfield brought Perth back close and the Kings lead was only three by quarter-time.

A Tom Vodanovich three-point play four minutes into the second quarter had Sydney back up four, but that would be the Kings' last field goal of the half with Martin sitting with three fouls despite having 11 points and six rebounds.

Perth took advantage with Cotton and John Mooney providing quite the two-man show combining for 30 points in the opening half for Perth to put the visitors up 47-41 at the main break.

The third quarter certainly didn’t reach any great heights but it did set the stage for a thrilling finish.

Martin returned for Sydney and hit five quick points but then picked up the unluckiest of fourth fouls when he found himself hitting the floor after Jesse Wagstaff attempting to take a charge under the basket on him. 

No call was made on that but the foul went on Martin when Blanchfield grabbed the rebound and fell onto him as was still laying on the floor. But neither team could then make a shot until Kevin White hit from way downtown to put Perth up eight. 

But a Vodanovich triple just before three quarter-time had Sydney within three after three.

Sydney quickly turned that into a four-point lead thanks to seven Didi Louzada points to open the fourth period. Mitch Norton scored a couple of baskets to keep Perth close, but Sydney was still up four thanks to Craig Moller.

The Wildcats took over from there starting with buckets to Todd Blanchfield, Clint Steindl and Mooney. Cotton then made a tough layup and Mooney scored inside before the 'Cats came away with the ugly yet effective win on the road.

The Kings (10-11) now back up in Round 13 against the South East Melbourne Phoenix also at Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday while the Wildcats (15-4) remain on the road to play to 36ers on Saturday and the Breakers in Tasmania on Tuesday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 13

SYDNEY KINGS 69 (Ware 20, Martin 16, Louzada 13)

PERTH WILDCATS 73 (Cotton 23, Mooney 21, Blanchfield 10) 

BOX SCORE