Perth Wildcats vs Adelaide 36ers NBL Round 20 Game Preview

Tip-off is at 9:30 PM AEDT, Friday, February 7 at RAC Arena

Perth Wildcats vs Adelaide 36ers Expert Analysis

The Perth Wildcats and Adelaide 36ers clash in a crucial late-season battle with major implications for the Wildcats.

A win for Perth keeps them in the hunt for second spot, while Adelaide's fate is essentially sealed, needing only to avoid a massive defeat to secure sixth place.

Adelaide's struggles on the road this season (4-9 away record) will be a major hurdle, especially against a Wildcats side that has dominated this matchup historically, winning 9 of the last 10 meetings. With both teams favouring an offensive style, expect plenty of scoring runs and little defensive resistance.

Key Matchups

Kristian Doolittle vs. Adelaide’s Frontcourt: Doolittle torched the 36ers for 27 points in their last meeting, and with Adelaide ranking last in offensive rebounding and near the bottom in defensive rebounding, he could be in for another big game.

Perth’s High-Powered Offence vs. Adelaide’s Improving Defence: Perth leads the league in scoring over the second half of the season, averaging 108.93 points per game. However, Adelaide has ranked second in defence over the past 10 games, allowing just 92.5 points per contest. If the 36ers can slow down the Wildcats’ attack, they could keep this one close.

Kendric Davis & Montrezl Harrell vs. Perth’s Defence: Adelaide’s dynamic duo has been key to their success, but they’ll need to break through a Wildcats team that struggles defensively, ranking 10th in points allowed over the last 15 games (99.8 PPG).

Key Stats

• Perth has won 9 of their last 10 matchups against Adelaide.

• Adelaide allows an average of 101.7 points per game on the road.

• The 36ers rank 8th in defensive rebounding and 10th in offensive rebounding.

• Kristian Doolittle scored 27 points in his last game against Adelaide.

Head-to-Head This Season:

• Jan 17: Perth 110-103 Adelaide

• Dec 28: Adelaide 92-116 Perth

• Dec 8: Adelaide 105-115 Perth

Why Perth Wins

Perth has been dominant offensively, scoring 100+ points in 12 of their last 15 games. With home-court advantage and Adelaide’s road struggles, they should be able to dictate the pace of this contest. If the Wildcats can control the rebounding battle and exploit Adelaide’s defensive lapses, they’ll be in a strong position to claim victory and push for a top-two finish.

Why Adelaide Wins

Despite recent losses, the 36ers have proven they can take down top teams, with wins over Sydney, Melbourne United, and Illawarra. Their defence has stepped up in the latter part of the season, and if they can force Perth into tough shots while getting big performances from Davis and Harrell, they have the weapons to pull off an upset.

Conclusion

With much more on the line for Perth, expect them to come out firing at home. Adelaide’s defensive improvements could keep it interesting, but their road form remains a major concern. If the Wildcats continue their offensive dominance and Adelaide can’t match their scoring output, this should be another victory for Perth as they push for a top-two finish.