Perth Wildcats' horror run of injuries has risen to a new level with Tai Webster joining superstar Bryce Cotton on the sidelines for Friday night’s game against the Sydney Kings.
Webster has suffered an adductor injury, just weeks after recovering from a calf injury, and won’t play against the Kings. Perth are now facing the daunting prospect of being without both him and Cotton who is recovering from a fractured rib.
The Wildcats have struggled to get their best team on the court with Dylan Windler and Keanu Pinder also missing games this season.
Coach John Rillie knows replacing Cotton’s scoring power is going to require a group effort.
“It’s going to have to be a group effort and an accumulation,” he said.
“The likes of Pepper and Henshall with their scoring ability, we will need that. Then there’s someone like Dylan Windler. Doolittle can pick up some slack. There will be other people that get the opportunity. It’s going to be really exciting for me to see how this unfolds.
“Injury is a part of sport. It’s very disappointing for Bryce to have this. He is an integral piece of our team but now the opportunity and challenge is for everyone else to take what’s in front of them. That’s what I’m excited about. Guys will get opportunity and we get to see how we perform as a team without Bryce.”
“The gravity that Bryce commands whether the ball is in his hands or out of his hands is astronomical. So the shots will not certainly be the same but our general structure remains the same.”
Sydney beat the Wildcats by one point earlier in the season and will enter the game with a 5-2 record. The Wildcats are 2-4.
Pinder struggled in that loss to the Kings, scoring just one point and having four turnovers. It began a stretch of matches where the star centre hasn’t had his usual impact.
Pinder has spent more time shooting from distance this season with only 58 per cent of his shots coming from inside the paint. That figure sat at 92 per cent at the same point of last season
Rillie said Pinder was attempting to mix outside shooting with his inside game.
“We need a combination of that. With the way he’s been working and developing his shot, to have that but it’s finding the balance,” Rillie said.
“He’s had a good week of practice and I’m sure he’s going to relish the opportunity with the responsibility with Bryce out.”
The Wildcats face a tough task against the Kings
Round 6 in NBL25 continues on Friday night where there are two games on the schedule. Second up in the highlight event with the Perth Wildcats hosting the Sydney Kings at RAC Arena. As always, we bring you our game preview and best bet for free below. Good luck to everyone following!
Also, we’re providing previews and expert betting tips for every game of the NBL25 season, so make sure to head over to our NBL Tips page regularly to keep up to date with all of our content.
Game Preview
The Perth Wildcats enter Round 6 under pressure to perform on the back of four losses in their past five games. Their 2-4 record now has them sitting in eighth spot on the ladder although they could finish the weekend on the bottom if results don’t go their way.
The Wildcats were last start losers against the Breakers and lost more than just the game, with superstar Bryce Cotton going down early in the first quarter with a rib injury. The 4x NBL MVP will miss Friday night’s game and will be reassessed in the coming days.
Without Cotton, the likes of Keanu Pinder and Dylan Windler with need to step up in a big way after slow starts to their campaigns. Pinder was a 17ppg guy only two seasons ago but is putting up just a tick over 11 per game right now, while Windler was a high-profile signing with NBA experience but has dished up very little so far.
The Sydney Kings have had their ups and downs in NBL25 but have shown glimpses of their devastating best. They’re currently riding their second two-game win streak of the season and their 5-2 record has them sitting pretty in second spot on the ladder and only % behind the Hawks in first.
The Kings have some injuries to contend with to star players as well, with Jaylen Adams currently nursing a back injury. Adams has been ruled out of Friday night’s game as per the official NBL injury list, but is a chance to play at home against the Breakers on Sunday afternoon.
Betting Tips
Game Prediction: The Cotton-less Wildcats fought hard but eventually came up short against the Breakers last outing, and I have the Breakers missing the finals in NBL25 despite their positive start. I worry that the Wildcats ‘other guys’ don’t have what it takes to cover for Cotton and that’s somewhat reflected in the odds where the Kings are priced as short favourites.
The Kings have shown the tendency to look disinterested in some games this season and that makes them a tough team to have much faith in backing to cover a big(ish) handicap. However, I’m hoping that we get their best in Perth on Friday night and if that’s the case, then they should be winning this one comfortably.
Wildcats' injury concerns
The Wildcats’ injury list is growing by the game. While Cotton's absence is a major blow, Webster's injury further compounds the Wildcats' problems. The Wildcats are now facing a difficult task of trying to compete without two of their key players.
The challenge ahead for the Wildcats
With Cotton and Webster out, The Wildcats will need to find a way to replace their scoring power. The team will be looking to players like Keanu Pinder, Dylan Windler, and Elijah Pepper to step up and fill the void left by the injured stars. The challenge for the Wildcats is to find a way to remain competitive without their two most important players.
What's next for the Wildcats?
The Wildcats will need to regroup quickly and find a way to overcome their injury issues. The team will be looking to their depth and their resilience to find a way to win games and stay in contention for a playoff spot. The Wildcats' performance against the Kings will be a good indication of how they will be able to handle the adversity they are facing.
