36ers unwatchable on defensive end in big loss

• Perth knocks down 21 threes, its most it 40-minute era
• Slumping Adelaide loses its third straight
• Wildcats forward Dylan Windler broke game open from three

In a stunning display of long-range marksmanship, the Perth Wildcats rained down 21 three-pointers to overwhelm the Adelaide 36ers 116-92 at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Saturday, December 28, 2024.

The visitors caught fire from beyond the arc, shooting a blistering 48% from deep to hand the 36ers their third straight defeat and move to 11-9 on the season. The Wildcats are 5th on the ladder.

In a surprise move, 36ers star Montrezl Harrell came off the bench and finished with 13 points and seven rebounds.

The contest began as a back-and-forth affair, with the teams locked at 26-26 after the first quarter. However, Perth seized control in the second period behind the sharpshooting leftie of Dylan Windler, who knocked down multiple triples in the frame to help the Wildcats build a 55-42 halftime advantage.

Adelaide showed signs of life in the third, trimming the deficit to single digits behind the scoring of Dejan Vasiljevic. But Perth responded emphatically, unleashing a barrage of threes to push the lead back to 15 heading into the final stanza. The fourth quarter saw the Wildcats pull away for good, with their lead ballooning to as many as 27 points as they cruised to the comfortable road victory. The 36ers played a defeated team in the fourth.

The three-point shooting disparity told the story of the night, with Perth connecting on 21-from-43 attempts from distance — their most in the 40-minute era —compared to just 7 of 26 for Adelaide. The Wildcats also dominated the glass, out-rebounding the 36ers 51-39, including 20 offensive boards that led to 21 second-chance points.

Windler was the standout performer for Perth, pouring in a game-high 24 points on 8-from-14 shooting, including 6-from-11 from three-point range. The forward also added eight rebounds, six assists, and four blocks in a stellar all-around effort.

Bryce Cotton orchestrated the Wildcats' offence masterfully, dishing out 12 assists to go along with 21 points. The MVP guard hit 4-from-6 from deep and went a perfect 9 of 10 from the free-throw line. Keanu Pinder added 23 points and nine rebounds in just 25 minutes.

For Adelaide, Vasiljevic led the way with 23 points, but it wasn't nearly enough to keep pace with Perth's offensive onslaught. Keandre Davis added 19 points and 10 assists in defeat for the 36ers, who have now lost six of their last seven games.