Let’s get physical: Soares won’t back down from JLA

After combining for just 21 points and nine rebounds in the Wildcats’ past two meetings with Sydney, Jo Lual-Acuil Jr will enter Wednesday night’s Playoff clash with plenty to prove.

Frustration boiled over the last time the teams met, with Lual-Acuil Jr shoving Tim Soares in the handshake line after the final buzzer, clearly unhappy with the Kings big man’s close checking during a fiery contest.

But according to Soares, that physicality is just part of the game.

“I actually think I’ve been a little bit more physical with other guys in the league,” Soares told CODE Sports ahead of Game 1 of the Playoffs.

“So, for him (JLA) I was just living up to that (standard).”

Soares pointed to Lual-Acuil Jr’s athleticism, saying he’d been more physical with bigger-bodied players like JaVale McGee and Tyrell Harrison.

“With JLA he is he a little quicker, so it was just being physical with him and trying to play good defence … I was just being physical,” he said.

The Wildcats’ marquee man had arguably his best game of the season in the Play-In Game against Melbourne, with 28 points and 12 rebounds.

Lual-Acuil Jr even went as far as labelling Perth’s trio of Kristian Doolittle, Dylan Windler and himself the best in the league after the win against United.

A similar performance on Wednesday night would go a long way towards a big upset for Perth in enemy territory. But he'll have to overcome Soares first.

“I’m excited for the matchup - he (JLA) is a great player and he is at the top of the league,” Soares added.

Sydney hosts Perth at Qudos Bank Arena in Game 1 of the Playoff Series, live on ESPN from 7.30pm AEDT on Wednesday.

Read the full story here >> Soares weighs in on heated Lual-Acuil Jr shove