Road warrior Wildcats claim another big scalp

• 2025-26 NBL Team Lists and Roster Tracker
• The only NBL26 Finals race still truly alive
• Ballarat heatwave melts Spirit–Flyers showdown in WNBL26 Round 13
• Cyclone threat stops Cairns vs Brisbane spoon fight

A vintage Kristian Doolittle performance, along with supporting roles from fellow import Dylan Windler and sharpshooter Elijah Pepper, has led the Perth Wildcats to another impressive road win over the previously in-form South East Melbourne Phoenix at the State Basketball Centre.

The win takes Perth's road record to 10-4 for the season, with their record at RAC Arena a dismal 4-6 heading into the home stretch of the season.

Doolittle was named Player of the Game with 24 points, 12 rebounds and four assists and said his team's third straight victory was huge for their season but they needed to improve at home.

"It was just a big win in general, before the game I said we got a two game winning streak we're trying to take it to three, so now we got three we're trying to get to four," Doolittle said in a post-game interview.

"I don't know (why we're good on the road) but to win a championship you're going to have to be able to win games on the road, now we just got to tidy it up at home."

Doolittle also praised the efforts of Windler (27 points and eight rebounds) and Pepper (18 points).

"They was huge, being able to make timely shots and be aggressive at all times, especially with the pressure that South East wants to play with, they're going to force someone else other than myself and Jo (Lual-Acuil) to beat them and they were able to step up tonight," he said.

The Wildcats will host the Illawarra Hawks at HoopsFest in Perth next week.

Match Recap

Perth Wildcats defeated South East Melbourne Phoenix 107-97 at State Basketball Centre. Dylan Windler's 27 points and efficient shooting sealed the 10-point victory.

Key Details

• Result: Perth Wildcats 107 def. South East Melbourne Phoenix 97
• When: Friday, 10th January 2026
• Where: State Basketball Centre
• Attendance: 3,422
• Standings: Perth Wildcats | South East Melbourne Phoenix

By the Numbers

• Dylan Windler (Perth Wildcats) starred with 27 points, eight rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block in 36 minutes.
• Wes Iwundu (South East Melbourne Phoenix) scored 27 points, and had three rebounds, three assists and one steal in 34 minutes.

What Happened

The Wildcats established early control with a dominant first quarter, outscoring the Phoenix 32-26 to set the tone for their eventual victory. Perth maintained their advantage through the second period, extending their lead to eight points at halftime with a 58-50 scoreline. The visitors continued to apply pressure in the third quarter, matching Phoenix's 25 points while keeping their opponents at arm's length.

Phoenix mounted a spirited fourth-quarter comeback, outscoring Perth 22-28, but the deficit proved too substantial to overcome. The home side's late surge fell short as the Wildcats held their nerve in the closing stages to secure the 10-point triumph.

Dylan Windler was outstanding for Perth, delivering an efficient 27-point performance on 10-from-17 shooting from the field, including an impressive 4-from-8 from deep. His 58.82% field goal percentage was instrumental in the Wildcats' offensive success, while he also contributed eight boards and four successful trips to the charity stripe.

Wes Iwundu matched Windler's scoring output for Phoenix with 27 points, shooting an efficient 11-from-19 from the field. Nathan Sobey added 24 points and eight assists in a stellar playmaking display, though his 1-from-7 three-point shooting highlighted Phoenix's struggles from beyond the arc.

Perth's superior shooting proved decisive in the contest. The Wildcats shot an outstanding 55.8% from the field compared to Phoenix's solid 47.06%. From downtown, Perth connected on 12-from-28 attempts for 42.86%, while Phoenix managed just 8-from-34 for a poor 23.5%. The visitors also dominated at the foul line, converting 19-from-24 free throws compared to Phoenix's 9-from-11.

Kristian Doolittle provided excellent support for Perth with 24 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double, while Elijah Pepper chipped in 18 points on efficient 7-from-10 shooting. For Phoenix, John Brown III contributed nine points and six boards in 36 minutes of action.

The Wildcats' balanced attack featured four players reaching double-digit scoring, demonstrating their all-round offensive effort. Perth also enjoyed a slight rebounding advantage, pulling down 36 boards compared to Phoenix's 40, though they struggled to control the ball with 13 turnovers to Phoenix's 11.