Wildcats dominate Bullets in second half

The Perth Wildcats shook off a disappointing second quarter to score the first 21 points of the second half on the way to a demolition of the Brisbane Bullets for the 95-75 victory.

The Bullets were back home on New Year's Day at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in the first NBL game of 2026 looking to hit back from a tough loss in Sydney two days earlier.

They then produced their best second quarter of the season with 28 points to just 15 from the Wildcats to go into half-time leading 44-40 and throw down the gauntlet to the visitors.

And Perth responded in the most emphatic fashion going on a 21-0 run to open the third quarter and holding Brisbane scoreless for more than five minutes.

By the end of the game, the Wildcats had outscored the Bullets 55 points to 31 in the second half while forcing them into 12 turnovers and just shooting 12/29 from the field.

That saw the Wildcats cruise to the 20-point win in the absence of import guard David Duke Jr with an elbow injury to consolidate fifth position at 12-10.

The Bullets copped their 10th loss this season of at least 20 points on Thursday to drop to 6-17 with the defeat compounded with the loss of imposing centre Tyrell Harrison to injury in the second quarter after a collision with captain Mitch Norton while chasing down a loose ball.

Backup centre Jacob Holt had 13 points to half-time to help inspire the Bullets to the four-point lead at the break, but the wheels quickly fell off in five nightmarish minutes of the third quarter.

Elijah Pepper had 12 points of his own in Perth's 21-0 run as the Bullets, in Darryl McDonald's fifth match in charge since replacing Stu Lash, disintegrated in a 31-11 quarter.

There were contributors right across the board for the 'Cats with Jo Lual-Acuil Jr top-scoring with 17 points and eight rebounds with Pepper ending up 14 points and six boards, and Dylan Windler 12 points and six rebounds.

Ben Henshall had 10 of his 12 points in the first half to go with four rebounds, three assists and three steals with Kristian Doolittle contributing 11 points, four boards and two assists, and David Okwera eight points, six rebounds and four assists.

Frustratingly for Brisbane, incoming import guard Hunter Maldonado sat courtside, still awaiting government clearance to play. Then just to add to it, Javon Freeman-Liberty injured a hamstring in another tough night where he had seven points on 3/8 shooting.

Fellow import Terry Taylor also struggled with eight points on just four shot attempts while Holt was the lone shining light with 17 points, seven rebounds and three assists on 7/12 shooting in his 25 minutes as he stepped up after the loss of Harrison.

The Wildcats remain on the road to take on the refreshed New Zealand Breakers on Sunday before the Bullets are back in action staying at home to host the league-leading Adelaide 36ers.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26

BRISBANE BULLETS 75 (Holt 17, Devers 9, Ducas 9)

PERTH WILDCATS 95 (Lual-Acuil Jr 17, Pepper 14, Windler 12, Henshall 12)

BOX SCORE