'Game over': JLA mocks Doolittle rift as 'Cats clip Phoenix

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Wildcats big man Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. revealed he and Kristian Doolittle "were playing video games together that same night while everybody else was going crazy" after they went at each other after Perth's one-point loss to Melbourne United on Monday.

They picked up the controllers again on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 against the South East Melbourne Phoenix to lead the Wildcats to a tough 101-93 win in Round 19 at RAC Arena in Perth.

"I just want to win," JLA declared.

"I am competitive and I always want to win. That is all that really matters. There was nothing difficult about it.

"I think everything gets blown out of proportion. Me and Doolittle are competitors. We want to win. We were playing video games together that same night while everybody else was going crazy.

"People tried to say there was a rift in the team. Me and Dool spent Christmas together. Our families are close. It is essentially two brothers going at it. Nothing more, nothing less. It got blown out of proportion.

"We have been joking about all the narratives people have been running with."

Their teammates were forced to step between the two after the final buzzer against United as frustrations boiled over. The Wildcats are now 17-11, a game behind Melbourne United at 18-10 while the Phoenix (19-9) kept the Sydney Kings (18-9) right in the hunt for second.

"I am really proud of the young guys," JLA added.

"Pep (Elijah Pepper) was big for us today. Henny (Ben Henshall) has been in a great rhythm. Dontae (Russo-Nance), David Okwera, all those guys come in and work.

"They might not play huge minutes, but they still impact the game.

"I am really happy for Pep and Henny getting these opportunities to grow.

"What people do not talk about enough is how big an impact David Duke Jr. is for us.

"That is another guy we have been without. When he comes back, that is a huge piece for us, especially late in games and defensively.

"We have been like this all year, just treading water until we get everybody back."

Key Details

• Result: Perth Wildcats 101 def. South East Melbourne Phoenix 93
• When: 28th of January, 2026
• Where: RAC Arena, Perth
• Attendance: 6,245
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Dylan Windler (Perth Wildcats) starred with 23 points, 11 rebounds, and 4-from-4 at the charity stripe in 32 minutes.
• ‍Jo Lual-Acuil Jr (Perth Wildcats) added 18 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal in 28 minutes.
• ‍Nathan Sobey (South East Melbourne Phoenix) scored 28 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals in 32 minutes.
• ‍John Brown III (South East Melbourne Phoenix) contributed 20 points and cleaned the glass with 14 rebounds, plus 2 assists and 4 swats in 35 minutes.

What Happened

Perth Wildcats and South East Melbourne Phoenix delivered a thrilling contest marked by 18 lead changes and constant momentum swings. The Phoenix started strong, outscoring Perth 32 to 24 in the opening period, with Nathan Sobey and John Brown III setting the tone. Perth responded in the second quarter, tightening their defence and putting up 25 points while holding the Phoenix to 19, narrowing the gap to two points at half-time.

The third quarter saw both teams trading baskets, each notching 26 points. Dylan Windler’s presence on the boards and Jo Lual-Acuil Jr’s efficiency inside the paint kept the Wildcats close, while Sobey continued to find his rhythm from outside the arc. The Phoenix briefly surged ahead, building their biggest lead of 12, but Perth capitalised on a 10-point scoring run late in the third, fuelled by Henshall’s backcourt energy and Pepper’s triples.

Key moments defined the outcome in the final period. With six minutes remaining, Windler hit a crucial three-pointer to put Perth ahead 87–85. At the three-minute mark, Lual-Acuil Jr. executed a textbook pick-and-roll, finishing with a slam dunk to extend the Wildcats’ lead. The Phoenix pressed back, but a clutch floater from Pepper with 90 seconds left, followed by a defensive stop from Doolittle, secured the win for Perth.

Windler’s stellar 23-point, 11-rebound effort was complemented by Lual-Acuil Jr.’s outstanding 75 percent shooting from the field (nine-from-12). Pepper contributed 22 points, including four-from-10 from deep, and Henshall added a consistent 14 points and five assists. For the Phoenix, Sobey’s six triples and Brown III’s double-double kept them in contention, but inefficient shooting (just under 38 percent from the field) and a lacklustre fourth quarter undermined their late push.

Team strategy proved decisive. Perth shot a solid 50 percent from the field (38-from-76), compared to the Phoenix’s subpar 38 percent (29-from-77). The Wildcats also dominated the glass, out-rebounding the Phoenix 48 to 43, and capitalised on second-chance opportunities. Turnovers were a concern for both teams, but South East Melbourne’s nine miscues in the second half stalled their offence and allowed Perth to control the tempo down the stretch.