PERTH Wildcats produced a commanding 20-point win over Brisbane Bullets at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on New Year’s Day, coming from four points down at the main break to explode with 55 points to 31 in the second half. The Wildcats are firmly in fifth spot – helped by Tasmania JackJumpers’ loss the day before – after the 95-75 triumph.

Perth Wildcats (95) def. Brisbane Bullets (75)

In a somewhat topsy-turvy first half, the Wildcats came out of the blocks well to lead by nine points at quarter time, before having their defence ripped apart from a Brisbane offence that was clicking into gear. The Bullets reversed a nine-point deficit after 10 minutes to lead by four courtesy of a 28-15 second stanza, and lead 44-40 at half-time.

That scare was enough to get everything back on track for the Wildcats who looked every bit the NBL title contender in the third quarters, piling on 31 points to 11 in a one-sided affair, before finishing off strongly as well with a 24-20 last term. The end result of 95-75 told a fair tale of the tape that saw the clearly better – and healthier – side come away with the win in the run home to the NBL Finals.

There were still 23 lead changes throughout the match – largely through the first half – while the Wildcats dominated the boards with 47 rebounds to 35, and a whopping 17 of them were up the offensive end. They committed five less turnovers, and shot at a marginally higher clip across the board, but ultimately had 10 more shots from the field, and also got to the line an additional 10 times as well.

No one individual tore the Bullets apart, though Jo Lual-Acuil (17 points, eight rebounds) was named Player of the Match, while Elijah Pepper nailed half of his six attempts from beyond the arc on his way to 14 points and six rebounds. Ben Henshall (12 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals) did a little of everything, while Dylan Windler (12 points, six rebounds) and David Okwera (eight points, six rebounds and four assists) off the bench also contributed strongly.

The Bullets also shared their points around, though only Jacob Holt off the bench managed double-digits, putting up 17 points, seven rebounds and three assists in the loss, with the likes of Tristan Devers and Alex Ducas managing nine. Bullets skipper Mitch Norton dished off a game-high six assists to go with his six points and two rebounds, while Sam McDaniel managed seven points, five assists, three rebounds and three steals.

Both sides will front up again on Sunday, with Brisbane remaining at home and welcoming ladder leaders Adelaide 36ers, while Perth makes the long trek down to New Zealand to clash with the Breakers at Spark Arena.