The Perth Wildcats delivered a statement performance on Friday night, dismantling the Brisbane Bullets 94-75 at a lively RAC Arena and extending their impressive late-season surge. This commanding victory not only highlighted the Wildcats’ growing confidence but also reinforced their status as genuine NBL title contenders as the regular season enters its decisive phase.

From the opening tip, Perth set the tone with ruthless efficiency. An explosive 18-2 run in the first few minutes stunned the injury-hit Bullets and established a lead the visitors never threatened to erase. The Wildcats stretched their advantage to as many as 24 points and cruised to the finish line, never trailing at any stage. The final margin of 19 points flattered Brisbane slightly, as Perth controlled virtually every facet of the contest.

Leading the charge was American import Kristian Doolittle, who continued his red-hot form with a game-high 28 points, complemented by seven rebounds, six assists and one steal. Doolittle’s blend of scoring versatility, intelligent passing and defensive tenacity has made him one of the most complete performers in the league this season. His ability to impact both ends of the floor has been instrumental in Perth’s turnaround.

Elijah Pepper provided excellent secondary scoring with 20 points, displaying sharp perimeter shooting and smart off-ball movement, while Jo Lual-Acuil added 15 points and a physical presence inside that helped Perth dominate the boards and second-chance opportunities. The balanced attack prevented Brisbane from keying on any single player, exposing the Bullets’ defensive frailties.

This result marks Perth’s fourth consecutive win and their ninth triumph in the past ten outings, lifting them to a 20-11 record and a solid hold on fourth position in a tightly bunched NBL ladder. With only a handful of regular-season games remaining, the Wildcats now face defining clashes against the league-leading Sydney Kings and a dangerous Adelaide 36ers side. These matchups will go a long way toward determining final seeding and home-court advantage in the playoffs.

Head coach John Rillie was pleased with his team’s focus and execution, particularly the aggressive start against a wounded opponent."We talked pre-game about us being able to come out and throw the first punch," Perth coach John Rillie said."When you're playing a team in their situation, you're always nervous and they're dangerous.So for us to come out the way that we did, that was great to see."

Rillie’s emphasis on mindset has paid dividends. After a mid-season stretch that included some inconsistent performances, the Wildcats have tightened their defensive rotations, improved transition defense and become far more efficient in half-court sets. That maturity was evident against Brisbane.

On the injury front, Perth received encouraging signs. Young wing Ben Henshall missed the game with an ankle concern, but guard David Duke Jr made a successful return from an eight-week layoff caused by an elbow injury. In just 13 minutes off the bench, Duke contributed nine points and four rebounds while displaying the aggression and confidence that made him a valuable piece earlier in the season.

Rillie was impressed with Duke’s first outing back."He did a great job. He was aggressive, he was assertive and I think he'll be better for it," Rillie said.

Duke’s reintroduction adds another layer of depth and perimeter scoring at a critical time, giving Perth greater flexibility as they prepare for tougher opponents.

Meanwhile, the Brisbane Bullets suffered their 12th straight defeat, falling to a dismal 6-26 record and remaining anchored to the bottom of the ladder. Despite welcoming back Tyrell Harrison from concussion protocol (nine points, four rebounds), the Bullets struggled to find rhythm or cohesion. Poor decision-making, especially in ball-handling, plagued their night.

A low point came when import Terry Taylor committed one of his team-high five turnovers, triggering a heated exchange with coach Darryl McDonald on the sideline. McDonald later played down the incident."Just a heated moment in the game. Nothing more than that," McDonald said."It was just the turnover. It was one turnover that he threw to 'Holty' (Jacob Holt).I'm trying to explain to him, don't throw it to him up there. We're not going to post him up outside the three-point line.We never got to it because he doesn't want to get blamed for it, which is understandable, but other than that there was nothing else in it."

Hunter Maldonado was Brisbane’s best performer, finishing with 18 points and seven assists despite rolling an ankle and briefly leaving the court. His effort offered a small silver lining on an otherwise bleak evening. The Bullets’ last victory came all the way back on December 22, underlining the depth of their current struggles.

Brisbane wraps up their campaign next Friday at home against the ladder-leading Sydney Kings, hoping to salvage some pride in their final appearance of the season.

For Perth, the focus now turns to maintaining momentum and sharpening execution against elite competition. If they can carry this level of intensity and defensive commitment into the postseason, the Wildcats have the personnel and coaching to make a genuine championship push.