Kings hit back over shorthanded Wildcats

The Sydney Kings avoided a third straight NBL defeat and made it six in-a-row against the Perth Wildcats bouncing back at home with Kendric Davis, Torrey Craig and Will Johnston showing the way in the 102-81 win.

The Kings were back to Afterpay Arena having lost in Canberra to the New Zealand Breakers on Wednesday night on the back of a first defeat as defending champions last Sunday to the Adelaide 36ers.

The Wildcats arrived on a four-game winning run and were playing their first road game of NBL27, but were always up against it in the absence of star pair Kristian Doolittle and Jo Lual-Acuil Jr.

Sydney were also still without Matthew Dellavedova, but went up 12 early and were in control most of the evening with the final margin the biggest lead of the game.

The Kings finished shooting 52 per cent from the field and 11/32 from deep to the 42 per cent and 9/32 from the Wildcats while Perth got to the line 12/17 to 5/8.

After a couple of quieter games in the last two losses, Davis had a strong showing for Sydney with 23 points, eight assists, four rebounds and two steals.

Craig also provided 26 points, 12 rebounds and two assists including a big block and halfcourt shot in the dying seconds.

Will Johnston got the crowd roaring with 17 points on 3/4 three-point shooting with Makuach Maluach adding 16 points and three rebounds with Andrew Carr contributing 13 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two blocks.

In the absence of Doolittle and Lual-Acuil Jr, Dylan Windler took on extra responsibility for 19 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.

Jimmy Whitt came in for Doolittle and starred with 15 points on 7/11 shooting while guarding Davis with Anthony Dell'Orso contributing 13 points, three rebounds and two steals, Brandon Knight 10 points and six assists, and Angus Brandt eight points and seven boards.

It was a tough night for Elijah Pepper after four straight 25-point games to go scoreless on 0/7 shooting.

The Kings were back home and trying to avoid a third straight loss with the 'Cats on the road for the first time in NBL27, and Sydney came out hot opening up a 12-point advantage in the first quarter.

Kendric Davis started strongly and already had 11 points and four assists to quarter-time with Andrew Carr and Torrey Craig adding seven points each as they went into the first break leading 31-21 with 12/24 shooting to the 6/17 from the Wildcats who also had seven turnovers.

The Sydney lead grew to 16 in the second frame but Perth were able to work back into the contest and had limited that advantage of the Kings to 52-43 by half-time despite the 16 points and six assists from Davis, and 15 points from Craig.

Dylan Windler was up to 12 points for the 'Cats with new import guard Brandon Knight adding eight points and three assists.

The Wildcats were doing enough to stay within touching distance in the third quarter too, but the Kings maintained their edge and by three quarter-time were on top 76-63.

That stayed the case through the fourth quarter with the Kings going on to score the 21-point victory topped off with a halfcourt bomb on the buzzer from Craig after he blocked Elijah Pepper seconds earlier.

The Kings now play their first road game of NBL27 on Thursday against the Illawarra Hawks before heading to Melbourne to play United on Sunday.

After their first road game of the season, the Wildcats are back home on Friday night to host Melbourne at RAC Arena.

SYDNEY KINGS 102 – PERTH WILDCATS 81

Sydney Kings
Torrey Craig – 26 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists
Kendric Davis – 23 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals
Will Johnston – 17 points, 2 assists, 3/4 3PT
Makuach Maluach – 16 points, 4 rebounds, 7/10 FG
Andrew Carr – 13 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks

Perth Wildcats
Dylan Windler – 19 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists
Jimmy Whitt – 15 points, 3 rebounds
Anthony Dell'Orso – 13 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals
Brandon Knight – 10 points, 6 assists
Angus Brandt – 8 points, 7 rebounds