Hot shooting Wildcats blow Bullets away

The Perth Wildcats made their first eight three-pointers and put up a blistering 38-point second quarter before beating the banged up Brisbane Bullets 112-85 to cap their road run in style.

The Wildcats were playing their last of seven consecutive road games at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Wednesday night as they took on the shorthanded Bullets looking for a sixth win in that stretch.

Perth arrived fresh off beating Tasmania in Hobart by 32 points but it was Brisbane who had the better of the start despite the absence of Tyrell Harrison, Rocco Zikarsky, Deng Adel, Emmett Naar and development player Kye Savage.

Josh Bannan was able to play despite hurting his knee in Saturday night's loss in Traralgon to South East Melbourne, and helped the Bullets to an eight-point lead in first quarter.

However, the Wildcats blew the game apart in the second term by making their first eight three-point attempts of the game and producing 38 points to 15.

In the second quarter alone, Perth went 13/18 from the field and 6/9 from downtown with 22 of their first half points coming from the 11 Bullets turnovers.

Brisbane did get back as close as 11 but the Wildcats cruised to the 27-point win to make it six of seven on the road since their last home game on December 6 to improve to 14-9.

The Wildcats scored 32 points from the 20 Bullets turnovers and along with 15 offensive rebounds ended up taking 18 more shots and four more free-throws.

Bryce Cotton continued to tighten his grip on a fifth MVP award with another 36 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals on 5/7 three-point shooting.

Keanu Pinder added 19 points and six rebounds, Dylan Windler 16 points, six boards, three steals and three blocks, and Elijah Pepper 10 points.

"It wasn't a great start but we stuck with it," Perth coach John Rillie said.

"I'll critique the second half, but we've been on the road for seven games ... we did what we had to do.

"We're in a nice groove, but we can get better."

The Bullets have now lost five of the last six at 10-13 despite the best efforts of Bannan and Casey Prather.

Prather continued his sparkling form with 32 points and 11 rebounds with 6/11 three-point shooting despite eight turnovers with Bannan contributing 20 points and 11 rebounds.

New import Josh Adams also had 11 points and three assists.

"You can't afford it," Bannan said, critical of his team's second-quarter effort.

"You want to make the play-offs but you have to set goals to be more ambitious than slide into the six.

"Our intent needs to be to win every single game so there's no shadow of doubt.

"We have to change our effort levels to be better than they were tonight."

After shaking off a knee he hurt on Saturday night, Josh Bannan came out and scored Brisbane's first eight points and that turned into a 15-9 advantage when Casey Prather also added five quick points.

Prather then hit a triple to make it 18-12 but the 'Cats finished the opening period strongly with a 13-5 run including the last four points to Bryce Cotton to tie scores up at 27-27.

The Wildcats then delivered a scorching second quarter and it started with the opening 12 points that included a pair of three balls from Cotton.

Perth then produced another 15 straight points that included Keanu Pinder and Dylan Windler landing three balls with the lead growing to 25 points.

Kristian Doolittle made it a perfect 8/8 from three for the Wildcats in the half with the lead getting out to 29 thanks to another 7-0 run before the Bullets did stop the rot with eight consecutive points themselves.

The Wildcats were still in control 65-42 at the half thanks to the 38-15 second quarter before the Bullets did open up the second half showing some fight with a 17-3 run.

That had Brisbane right back in the contest with the margin back to 11 but Perth had all the answers beginning with another eight straight points including another three ball from Cotton.

The 'Cats were still leading 85-66 after three and then from there cruised to the 27-point win to return home winning six of seven in this seven-game road stretch either side of the New Year.

Both teams will play home games now on Friday night with the Bullets remaining in Brisbane to host the Cairns Taipans before the Wildcats are back to RAC Arena up against the Adelaide 36ers in a tantalising match up.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2024/25

BRISBANE BULLETS 85 (Prather 32, Bannan 20, Adams 11)

PERTH WILDCATS 112 (Cotton 36, Pinder 19, Windler 16)

BOX SCORE