Gods have spoken: Pepper's 'Cats 3-0 since Ruck's wish

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Former NBL MVP Derek Rucker asked the Basketball Gods to punish the Perth Wildcats, "I hope they lose all their games", for not signing a point guard much earlier in the off-season.

Since then, Perth has won three straight, and NBA veteran Brandon Knight ($277,000) still hasn't played.

The Wildcats (3-1) avenged their first-game 100-79 loss to the South East Melbourne Phoenix (1-3) with a professional 92-88 closeout at RAC Arena on Friday, October 2, 2026, in Round 3.

"Great team win," Perth head coach John Rillie said.

"We stayed with it, especially with the way we finished last time against them. Good growth there.

"We had contributors in big moments all over the place tonight. I just talked to the team about a couple that come to mind: Angus Brandt's tip-in, (Jimmy Whitt)'s blocked shot.

"Those little things equate to allowing the other guys to do what they do out on the floor. You just come out, do your job and respect the game for what it is. It's amazing how it ends up working out for you."

In-form Elijah Pepper ($202,700) and Dylan Windler ($271,100) both knocked down clutch free throws down the stretch to seal the home win. Knight, who arrived in Perth on Wednesday, wasn't in the building because of illness.

"He's had a quick introduction to Australia and the healthcare system," Rillie revealed.

"Just ate some bad food, is what I've been told.

"Our goal is to have him ready for the next game, but I'm certainly going to be mindful of putting him in a position where he can be successful.

"This group's doing a great job. The little bit of time I've spent with him, he's got a great approach to all of this."

Pepper (25 points), Anthony Dell'Orso ($100,000) (22) and import Kristian Doolittle ($317,500) combined for 69 of Perth's 92 points.

"It's been great," Dell'Orso said.

"Obviously, I've had a pretty good transition. It was easy.

"I've got a coach that I trust, and he trusts me, so I have ultimate confidence out there on the floor.

"Obviously, happy for it to go in. Pep stepped up and made some big ones too. Wind made some big ones.

"It was a full team effort. It wasn't just one guy that had one shining moment.

"It was great to see everyone contribute."

The Phoenix had six players in double figures but couldn't get over the hump. Import point guard Skylar Mays ($277,000) led the team with 17; NBL Next Star Dash Daniels ($115,000) and Akech Aliir ($125,300) both had 13; Nathan Sobey ($379,600) had 12; and Angus Glover ($191,700) and Jordan Hunter ($224,800) had 11 apiece.

"We have a bunch of good players on our team," Phoenix head coach Josh King said.

"Our record wouldn't indicate that right this second, but we have a lot of good players.

"We're still trying to find our way, and we're not shooting the basketball well right now.

"I think we have a bunch of different guys we can lean on to make offensive plays. But when you're not shooting the ball well collectively, you have to get stops. You have to get defensive rebounds, and we didn't get enough of them tonight.

"No, it's not about any one guy going to win the game. It's a team game. That's first and foremost.

"We have a bunch of guys who can make plays for us down the stretch offensively, but we have to be more focused on the defensive side of the ball."

The Basketball Gods have chosen a side, and it's not Rucker's.

"I think our competitiveness is there because it shows how we've been able to win these last three games," Rillie added.

"Where we get to and where we are as a team, we're evolving.

"I can't give you a real answer to that because Brandon Knight hasn't had one rep. Jaron played eight minutes tonight, and we've got Jo (Lual-Acuil Jr) out.

"If we're fortunate enough to have everyone healthy on one night, with some miles on everyone's tyres, it'll be an interesting dynamic and where we can get to with that group."

What you need to know

• Perth Wildcats beat South East Melbourne Phoenix 92-88 at RAC Arena in NBL27 Round 3, reversing their 100-79 Round 1 home loss to the Phoenix.
• Perth won three quarters and drew one, 26-24, 22-22, 22-21 and 22-21, in a game with 13 lead changes in which neither side led by more than six.
• Elijah Pepper ($202,700) top-scored with 25 points on 8-from-20 and 7-from-7 at the line, and Skylar Mays ($277,000) led the Phoenix with 17 points and seven assists on 7-from-17.
• The Phoenix took 45 three-pointers and made 12, including 2-from-13 in the fourth quarter, and took 14 more shots than Perth, 77 to 63.
• Perth won it at the line, 23-from-26 to the Phoenix's 14-from-18, and scored their last eight points on free throws after it was 84-82.

Perth Wildcats

• Elijah Pepper ($202,700) top-scored with 25 points on 8-from-20, including 2-from-9 from three, and was 7-from-7 at the line.
• Anthony Dell'Orso ($100,000) scored 22 in 24 minutes on 7-from-12, including 3-from-7 from three and 5-from-5 at the line.
• Kristian Doolittle ($317,500) had 22 points, eight assists and seven rebounds on 7-from-12, playing a team-high 36 minutes.
• Dylan Windler ($271,100) added 14 points, nine rebounds and four assists on 5-from-10.
• Jesse Wagstaff ($84,700) scored five off the bench on 1-from-6, hitting a three and both of his free throws.
• Angus Brandt ($100,000) had two points and four rebounds in 14 minutes, making his only shot.
• Jaron Rillie ($177,100) made his season debut after a calf injury, with two assists in nine minutes.
• Perth shot 30-from-63 from the field, 9-from-25 from three and 23-from-26 at the line, with 38 rebounds, 20 assists and 10 turnovers.

South East Melbourne Phoenix

• Skylar Mays ($277,000) top-scored with 17 points, seven assists and five rebounds on 7-from-17, including 3-from-8 from three.
• Akech Aliir ($125,300) scored 13 off the bench in 16 minutes on 5-from-7.
• Dash Daniels ($115,000) added 13 points and seven rebounds off the bench on 4-from-7, including 3-from-6 from three.
• Nathan Sobey ($379,600) had 12 points and eight assists on 3-from-12, going 0-from-6 from three and 6-from-6 at the line.
• Angus Glover ($191,700) scored 11 off the bench on 4-from-10, including 2-from-8 from three.
• Jordan Hunter ($224,800) had 11 points, six rebounds and a block on 4-from-9.
• D'Shawn Schwartz ($277,000) scored eight on 3-from-7 with three rebounds and two assists.
• The Phoenix shot 31-from-77 from the field, 12-from-45 from three and 14-from-18 at the line, with 41 rebounds, 24 assists and eight turnovers.