Doolittle, Rillie claw back 12-point deficit in Perth win

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Wildcats star Kristian Doolittle was the catalyst a 23-point swing in the fourth quarter to deliver Perth's first win of NBL26.

Perth was down 12 points (62–74) with nine minutes to go against the New Zealand Breakers in New Zealand but rolled over the top of the home team 89-78 on the back of Doolittle's 16 points, six rebound, three assists performance. He was +15 in 30 minutes.

"It started with defensive rebounding and sticking to our game plan," Doolittle said.

"We had some lapses, poor communication, lost coverages. Once we locked back in, limited them to one shot, and got out running, we swung the tide."

Wildcats head coach John Rillie admitted Perth was still trying to find its way.

"We’re not playing great basketball, but we have to stick with it and find our own rhythm," he said.

"We found a group at the end of the game that got into a good rhythm and swung the momentum back in our favour."

Rillie's son Jaron played a significant role in the fourth quarter and was an extraordinary +21 in just under seven minutes. Jaron went 2-from-3 from the field including a big three as part of the run that propelled the Wildcats to the win.

"That was one of those moments where I was both coach and father, trusting or not trusting in the moment," Rillie said.

"Most importantly, his teammates trusted him. That showed in how they closed the game."

Jaron's three ball came off an assist from Doolittle.

"I was glad for him," Doolittle said.

"I drove baseline, drew two, and they didn’t rotate to him — he knocked it down with confidence.

"It could be anyone in that spot, but tonight it was his moment."

Key Details

• Result: Perth Wildcats 89 def. New Zealand Breakers 78
• When: September 17, 2025
• Where: Spark Arena, Auckland

By the Numbers

• Jo Lual-Acuil Jr (Perth) starred with 21 points, eight rebounds, one assist, and four blocks in 33 minutes.
• Parker Jackson-Cartwright (New Zealand) scored 18 points, and had two rebounds, five assists in 32 minutes.

What Happened

The Wildcats established control early, jumping out to a 25-17 first-quarter lead behind strong interior play from Lual-Acuil Jr. The Breakers responded in the second quarter, outscoring Perth 25-19 to trim the deficit to just two points at halftime, 44-42.

Perth maintained their slim advantage through a defensive-minded third quarter where they outscored New Zealand 18-17. The visitors then pulled away in the final period with a 27-19 advantage to secure the 11-point victory.

Dylan Windler was dominant on the glass for Perth, collecting 15 rebounds (six offensive) to go with his 20 points on efficient 7-from-13 shooting. His work on the offensive boards was particularly crucial, helping Perth generate second-chance opportunities throughout the contest.

The Wildcats' defense proved to be the difference, with nine steals and six blocks compared to New Zealand's five steals and one block. Lual-Acuil Jr was a defensive anchor with four blocks, altering numerous other shots at the rim and forcing the Breakers into difficult attempts.

Perth's rebounding advantage was substantial, out-boarding the Breakers 51-44 including 20 offensive rebounds that led to crucial second-chance points. This advantage on the glass helped overcome their poor three-point shooting (6-from-35, 17.1%) compared to New Zealand's more respectable 8-from-31 (25.8%).

For the Breakers, Parker Jackson-Cartwright led the way with 18 points but struggled from the field, shooting just 7-from-18 overall and missing all five of his three-point attempts. Karim Lopez added 16 points and seven rebounds, while Izayah Le'Afa provided a spark off the bench with 14 points on 5-from-9 shooting, including 4-from-7 from beyond the arc.

Despite shooting a higher percentage from three-point range, the Breakers couldn't overcome Perth's dominance inside. The Wildcats outscored New Zealand in the paint and generated more free throw attempts (28 vs 22), reflecting their more aggressive approach.

With this win, Perth starts their NBL26 campaign with a valuable road victory, while New Zealand will need to regroup after dropping their home opener.