Perth Wildcats Face In-Form Cairns Taipans in Crucial NBL Clash

PERTH, Australia — Perth Wildcats coach John Rillie has warned his team not to underestimate the Cairns Taipans ahead of their National Basketball League (NBL) clash at RAC Arena on Saturday. Despite sitting at the bottom of the ladder, the Taipans have won three of their last five games, including a recent upset over league leaders Illawarra Hawks.

“They’re definitely playing a better brand of basketball over the last couple of games. So we’d better not be disrespectful and just think we can show up,” Rillie said. The Wildcats, currently fourth in the standings with a 15-10 record, are aiming for their sixth win in seven games to solidify their playoff position.

The Taipans’ recent resurgence has been fueled by strong performances, despite dealing with injuries throughout the season. Young guard Taran Armstrong missed their last game and remains in doubt for the trip to Perth. Meanwhile, the Wildcats will be without import Dylan Windler for a second consecutive game due to an eye injury, while Tai Webster continues to recover from a hamstring issue.

Rillie emphasized the importance of maintaining consistency, backing his starting lineup of Izan Almansa and David Okwera despite standout performances from bench players like Kristian Doolittle, who scored a career-high 33 points in their recent loss to Melbourne United. “We can’t let one result cloud what we’ve been doing over the last couple of months,” Rillie said. “I’m very happy with Keanu Pinder and the way he is playing. We’re playing good basketball, and our group is in a good spot.”

The Wildcats dominated their last meeting with the Taipans in December, winning 128-92 behind a 44-point performance from Bryce Cotton. However, Rillie acknowledged that the Taipans have improved since then and pose a significant threat. “They’re a danger team in recent weeks,” he said. “We need to be ready.”

The game tips off at 5:00 p.m. WST on Saturday at RAC Arena and will be broadcast live on ESPN via Kayo or Foxtel. With just four regular-season games remaining, the Wildcats are focused on securing a strong finish to the season as they aim for a deep playoff run.