NBL27 Round 2 Match Report | Wildcats vs NZ Breakers

The Perth Wildcats gave the Red Army another reason to celebrate on Saturday night, defeating the New Zealand Breakers 97-93 to secure their second victory in three days at RAC Arena.

After Elijah Pepper’s game-winner delivered a remarkable finish against Adelaide on Thursday, the Wildcats again showed their resilience, overcoming an 11-point deficit before holding off a late Breakers charge.

Dylan Windler led Perth with 26 points and set an aggressive tone from the opening minutes, scoring Perth’s first two field goals before Dell’Orso added five quick points to help establish an early advantage.

A Kristian Doolittle three pushed the margin to 17-8 before the Red Army welcomed 17-year-old Marley Sam onto the floor for his first NBL minutes.

New Zealand changed the game with its defensive pressure, as Parker Jackson-Cartwright turned consecutive steals into layups during an 18-5 run to close the opening quarter.

The Breakers led 26-22 at the first change and stretched their advantage to 11 early in the second term after consecutive threes from Mojave King.

With New Zealand threatening to take control, Pepper shifted the momentum.

Thursday night’s hero produced consecutive steals, scored in transition and continued his hot shooting from beyond the arc as the Wildcats worked their way back into the contest.

His third three of the quarter cut the deficit to one before a pull-up jumper returned Perth to the lead inside the final 90 seconds.

The Breakers scored the last five points of the half to carry a 51-47 advantage into the main break.

Four points down at half-time, the Wildcats returned to the floor with renewed energy and immediately changed the direction of the game.

Dell’Orso opened the third quarter from beyond the arc, Windler attacked the basket and Pepper followed with another three as Perth scored eight unanswered points to move ahead 55-51.

The Breakers refused to let the Wildcats take control. Jackson-Cartwright steadied the visitors and New Zealand gradually rebuilt a six-point advantage, placing the pressure back on Perth late in the quarter.

Windler lead the response from the Wildcats with a three before Wagstaff transformed the energy inside RAC Arena. The captain hit one from deep, forced a turnover and scored consecutive layups as Perth turned a six-point deficit into a two-point lead.

New Zealand levelled the scores with 22 seconds remaining, but the Wildcats ensured the quarter would finish on their terms.

Pepper drew the defence and found Windler in the corner, where he buried a three on the buzzer to give Perth a 76-73 lead and send the Red Army into the final break on its feet.

The Breakers tied the game early in the fourth, setting up another tense finish.

Windler answered by scoring inside before drawing a foul from beyond the arc and converting all three free throws. Pepper then added five quick points, including his fifth three of the night, as the Wildcats began to create some separation.

Jackson-Cartwright kept the Breakers alive with two difficult late threes, but the Wildcats held firm to close out a 97-93 victory.

Windler finished with a team-high 26 points and Pepper added 25, while Dell’Orso scored 15 and delivered several of the game’s most important late plays.

Jackson-Cartwright led New Zealand with 29 points, supported by King with 18 and Davison with 15.

After three consecutive home games to open NBL27, the Wildcats hold a 2-1 record and have shown their ability to absorb pressure, find different contributors and deliver with the game on the line.