Kings survive almighty Wildcats scare

11 Mar 2026

sydney kings

perth wildcats

finals

The Sydney Kings have taken a 1-0 series lead, but not without the Perth Wildcats throwing everything at them before falling just a solitary point short.

Kristian Doolittle put up 27 second half points and the Perth Wildcats did just about everything right but complete the job as the Sydney Kings held on for a 105-104 Game 1 win with Kendric Davis and Xavier Cooks coming up huge late.

The Kings finished the regular season in imposing form winning 11 straight games to claim top spot, but hadn’t played since February 20.

The Wildcats were already finals hardened after a loss to the South East Melbourne Phoenix and beating Melbourne United, and they shot out of the blocks with a 10-2 start.

The 'Cats then even hit back from falling nine points down early in the third quarter with Doolittle taking charge with 17 points in the third quarter.

Then it was the big guns of the Kings, Davis and Cooks, that came up huge when it mattered most.

Davis hit a pair of huge threes in the final three minutes and then Cooks made three crucial free throws including completing a three-point play down the stretch.

Perth were still a chance, though, with a strong Doolittle three-point play with 34.6 seconds to go bringing them back within one.

>> Finals schedule, tickets & how to watch

They then got a stop and Doolittle had a chance but couldn’t quite score on a similarly strong attempt going to the bucket. Even then the Wildcats had put back chances through Jo Lual-Acuil Jr and David Duke Jr.

The Kings held on, though, to now take the series lead despite the Wildcats pulling down 20 offensive rebounds to nine to end up attempting eight more shots.

Davis stepped up again huge for Sydney finishing with 35 points and six assists with 5/7 three-point shooting while going 10/13 at the foul line.

The numbers of Cooks don't stand out, but his impact was significant with his 10 points, three assists, two blocks and two rebounds while he went 4/5 at the foul line.

Torrey Craig had 15 first half points and 20 for the game with Matthew Dellavedova adding 11 points and three assists.

Doolittle finished with 31 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals on 13/22 shooting for the 'Cats with Duke Jr playing his best game since returning from an elbow injury with 20 points, eight assists and six rebounds – five of which were offensive.

Lual-Acuil Jr fought hard all night against Sydney's physicality for 19 points and 12 rebounds on 9/13 shooting with Dylan Windler adding 17 points and four assists, and Elijah Pepper 12 points and eight rebounds.

The Wildcats had already played two Play-In Games since the Kings last hit the floor and it appeared to do them the world of good with a fast start away from home.

Three-point bombs to Dylan Windler and Ben Henshall saw the 'Cats open up a 10-2 lead with the Kings still trying to settle before David Duke Jr came on for Perth and hit a pair of three balls too to see his team up 18-11.

Torrey Craig helped Sydney settle, though, with seven points after he hit the floor and that limited the lead for the Wildcats to 24-22 by the end of one.

Matthew Dellavedova then landed Sydney's second three-pointer of the game to give them their first lead to start the second period.

The lead continued to seesaw the rest of the half but then Kendric Davis finished with a bang starting with an open triple on an out-of-bounds play, and then completing a three-point play in transition after a steal to give him 13 points and Sydney the 48-44 advantage.

Davis kept that momentum going to start the second half with a three-pointer and the Kings were threatening to take the game away from Perth with a nine-point edge.

Kristian Doolittle wasn’t going to allow that, though, and he proved unstoppable in the third quarter for the 'Cats by putting up 17 points.

The Wildcats were clinging to the 75-73 lead by three quarter-time but again the Kings hit back with six of the first eight points of the final period to be up by two after Kouat Noi scored.

It was big play for big play from there with the tension rising with what was at stake but the Kings grabbed back momentum and a two-point lead with 2:42 with a huge Makuach Maluach block on an attempted Jo Lual-Acuil Jr dunk before Davis capitalised with a three up the other end.

Windler and Davis traded three balls before Cooks ensured Sydney were still up four heading into the final minute only for Doolittle to get it back to one, and then not quite being able to complete the winner at the buzzer.

Game 2 will take place at RAC Arena between the two teams on Saturday night and earlier that evening with be the second game between the South East Melbourne Phoenix and Adelaide 36ers at John Cain Arena.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL FINALS – PLAYOFFS SERIES 2

SYDNEY KINGS 105 (Davis 35, Craig 20, Dellavedova 11)

PERTH WILDCATS 104 (Doolittle 31, Duke Jr 20, Lual-Acuil Jr 19)

BOX SCORE

The schedule

As at completion of game on Wednesday, March 11

Playoffs Series 1

Adelaide leads South East Melbourne 1-0

Game 2
South East Melbourne Phoenix v Adelaide 36ers
Saturday, March 14 - 5.30pm AEDT
John Cain Arena
Tickets | Phoenix Finals Hub

Game 3
Adelaide 36ers v South East Melbourne Phoenix
Tuesday, March 17 - 7.30pm AEDT
Adelaide Entertainment Centre
(if required)
Tickets | 36ers Finals Hub