'Struth!': Throwback Jesse leads Wildcats into fourth

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Veteran Jesse Wagstaff came into the game with the Perth Wildcats down 9-0 in the first and left with it tied 9-9, and the home team didn't look back, securing fourth on the NBL26 ladder, beating the Adelaide 36ers 86-74 in the last game of the season in Perth on Friday, February 20, 2026.

The 536 game Wildcats captain provided the spark for a struggling Perth starting line-up trying to adjust to the absence of five-time MVP Bryce Cotton with back soreness.

“I enjoy winning," Wagstaff said.

"Winning is way better than losing — way better feeling. Good to get a win. Obviously, BC wasn’t playing, but they’re still a really good side, well coached, and like every team in this league, they’ve got talent. Nice to finish the regular season on a win, and it’s on to the playoffs.

“My role hasn’t changed in however many years I’ve been playing. Sometimes it’s to go out there and not shoot the basketball, sometimes it is to shoot the basketball. Sometimes it’s to crash, sometimes it’s to get back. It’s just doing whatever’s needed.

"Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.”

Wagstaff, 39, clocked up 22 minutes and finished with season-high 18 points, seven rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block. He left midway through the second quarter after his second shift gassed. But his impact was decisive, as the Wildcats went on a 30-10 run to break the contest open.

Wildcats head coach John Rillie called Wagstaff's number early in the first quarter because the starters were out of sync.

“He influenced the game and impacted the game at both ends in different ways," Rillie said.

"Probably what gets lost in all of this with Jesse is he understands the moment and the occasion and what it calls for.

“He’s probably sitting there for the first couple minutes going, ‘Oh struth, I’ve got to get something going tonight to get us going'.’

"That’s what he’s made a career out of — living in the moment. Very few people understand and can feel that naturally, and just take it upon themselves.

"You saw it in full effect tonight.”

Meanwhile, the 36ers, once near-runaway league leaders through December, finished the season second to the in-form Sydney Kings.

“I thought just a hell of an effort by the group,” head coach Mike Wells said.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the group. I couldn’t be more proud of the 33-game run.

“I can’t believe that we’re at the end of the regular season, to be honest with you. It’s been an exceptional group from day one to coach and to be around. They just find ways to keep connecting, and I thought you saw a great example of that today with a lot of the bench guys getting an extended run there — and we won the second half.

“We went on a 14–4 run in the middle of it. I thought there were a lot of great things. Nick (Rakocevic) had 18 and seven, Z (Zylan Cheatham) here with 11 rebounds, which is what he does every day. He walks out there, gets 11, handles the ball and gets us going.

“Probably the difference in the game was their three-point shooting in the first half. In the second half, it was one-for-eight. I thought we did a great job adjusting, getting there, taking them off the line and trying to make them do something else. There were a lot of really good things.

“I’m just super proud of the group and excited about putting this behind us and now getting to the next thing.”

The 36ers will now travel straight to the Gold Coast to play in the Ignite Cup final against the New Zealand Breakers on Sunday, February 22, 2026.

“I wanted to be in a single-elimination situation,” Wells added.

“That’s what this is — this is a playoff game. Instead of our season being over, though, it’s for the money. We talked about it from the very first Ignite Cup game that we were going to make this a focus.

“I was in the NBA when the in-season tournament started. One thing in my 26 years in the NBA and 31 now of coaching — guys like to compete. And when there’s money on the line, they really compete. I think this is a fantastic deal. It’s important to try to win and put the Adelaide 36ers on the first year that we did the Ignite Cup.

“We’ve got two games in about 40 hours on different coasts. We’re excited to be in this situation. I want my guys — and maybe the support staff — to know if you come here, we’re going to play for the Ignite Cup, we’re going to try to get to the championship every year, so these guys can make their money.

“It’s a priority.”

Key Details

• Result: Perth Wildcats 86 def. Adelaide 36ers 74
• When: Friday, 20th February 2026
• Where: RAC Arena, Perth
• Attendance: 13,574
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Elijah Pepper (Perth Wildcats) starred with 22 points, three rebounds, five assists in 35 minutes.
• Nick Rakocevic (Adelaide 36ers) scored 18 points, and had seven rebounds, two blocks in 25 minutes.

What Happened

The Sixers struck first despite missing five-time MVP Bryce Cotton, racing to a nine-point lead before Perth coach John Rillie called an early timeout and inserted veteran captain Jesse Wagstaff. The 536-game stalwart immediately made his mark, scoring Perth's first four points as the Wildcats rallied to take a 19-17 advantage by quarter-time. Pepper caught fire in the second term, draining his fourth triple of the half to help build an 11-point buffer before extending Perth's dominance to 48-34 at the break.

Perth appeared to take complete control early in the third quarter when Pepper's sixth three-pointer pushed the margin out to 19 points. However, Adelaide showed tremendous character without their star guard, mounting a stirring 12-2 run to close the period and cut the deficit to just nine points heading into the final stanza. The Sixers continued their momentum into the fourth quarter, with Keanu Rasmussen's breakaway layup reducing the gap to just four points two minutes in.

The contest reached its most dramatic point when Adelaide trimmed the lead to three following Nick Rakocevic's clutch triple and another Rasmussen score. But Jo Lual-Acuil Jr responded emphatically for Perth, pouring in 13 fourth-quarter points to steady the ship and secure the crucial victory. His dominant final period performance, shooting an outstanding 9-from-16 from the field overall, proved the difference when the Wildcats needed it most.

Perth's superior shooting from beyond the arc ultimately decided the contest, with the Wildcats connecting on 10 triples at 40% compared to Adelaide's seven at 28%. Pepper led the three-point barrage with an efficient 6-from-10 performance from downtown, while Wagstaff contributed 18 points and seven boards in his milestone appearance. David Duke Jr also provided valuable support with 13 points in just his third game back from injury.

This victory ensures Perth finishes fourth at 21-12 and avoids the knockout Play-In Qualifier, instead earning a Seeding Qualifier matchup against South East Melbourne Phoenix with a chance to advance straight to the Playoffs. Adelaide, already locked into second position at 23-10, will turn their attention to the Ignite Cup final against New Zealand Breakers on the Gold Coast this Sunday before preparing for their playoff campaign.