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Comeback complete! Wildcats win thriller in Brisbane

18 Nov
2 mins read

Written By

Jordan McArdle

Perth have produced a stunning come-from-behind victory over Brisbane at Nissan Arena to seal a fifth win on the trot in thrilling fashion.

The Wildcats trailed for most of the evening before going on a 20-6 run to finish 79-76 ahead and head into the FIBA break with a 7-5 record.

Superstar Bryce Cotton continued his mid-season hot streak, finishing with a game-high 25 points to go with seven rebounds, three assists and three steals.

It was his fifth game in a row scoring 20-plus points to show he's well and truly back to his brilliant best.

Perth’s winning streak was in serious jeopardy when the Bullets led by nine midway through the final term before Cotton and fellow import Kristian Doolittle inspired the comeback.

Doolittle, who gets better with every game, fell one rebound shy of a double-double after scoring 21 points.

The pair combined for back-to-back triples to tie the scores at 70-apiece with two minutes left.

Scores were again locked at 74-all when Hyrum Harris hit his free throws before Keanu Pinder went to the line successfully as well to make it 76-74.

Brisbane import Chris Smith, his team’s best all night with 23 points, missed his mid-range jumper to level the scores.

Cotton was then fouled twice in the last six seconds and made three of his four free throws to ice the game.

It was a low-scoring, sloppy opening term with both sides way off with their shooting.

The Wildcats shot at 35 per cent from the field, while the Bullets were even worse with 33 per cent but the hosts still held a 16-14 advantage at quarter-time.

Brisbane scored the first six points of the second quarter before Doolittle steadied the ship with an important and one.

Alex Sarr produced a pair of team-lifting efforts at either end of the floor, swatting his opponent’s shot away before hitting a three at the other.

After trailing by as much as 10 points with 90 second left in the half, the visitors stormed into half-time with eight consecutive points as Cotton enjoyed a purple patch.

Hyrum Harris was in everything in the third quarter, doing the little things defensively to help the Wildcats stay within striking distance, while Cotton continued to knock down buckets.

Just three points separated the two sides with a quarter to play, before the Bullets began to take control as the margin blew out to nine.

But Perth had other ideas, stormed home for one of their most memorable wins of the season.

The Wildcats’ next assignment is against Sydney at RAC Arena on December 1.

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