Adelaide 36ers star Brock Motum helped his side to a crucial away win over the Perth Wildcats. Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper Source: News Corp Australia
BRILLIANCE from NBA-calibre big man Brock Motum helped the Adelaide 36ers knock off the Perth Wildcats 106-102 in the NBL game of the season on Friday night.
A record crowd of 13,559 watched on at Perth Arena for the Wildcats’ first home game of 2015 but the majority of them went home disappointed as Motum put the 36ers on his back and carried them home by four points.
Motum only narrowly missed earning an NBA roster spot with the Utah Jazz, after representing the Australian Boomers at the FIBA World Cup, but he showed just why he belongs there before too long.
Motum finished with 31 points and 13 rebounds on the back of shooting 13-of-22 from the field and 2-of-3 from long range — before he delivered the game-sealing dunk with seconds remaining on the back of a second straight turnover from Wildcats import DeAndre Daniels.
The result is a massive one in the context of the season for both teams — the win improved the 36ers to a 9-11 record, bring them closer to Melbourne United (10-9) and the Wildcats (12-7).
It was the highest-scoring game of the season for both teams and while it made for an exciting spectacle, that style of play didn’t suit the usually defensively strong Wildcats.
Perth Wildcats v Adelaide 36ers at Perth Arena — Wildcat Damien Martin tries to defend the 36ers’ Jamar Wilson. Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper Source: News Corp Australia
On top of Motum’s season-best performance, Adelaide had four other players scoring in double-figures — Jamar Wilson hit 19 points, Anthony Petrie 15, Adam Gibson 11 and Mitch Creek 10. Luke Schenscher also made a strong contribution with nine points and Peter Crawford hit six.
The Wildcats’ players also up some good numbers — but allowing Adelaide to score 106 points was the issue that left coach Trevor Gleeson exasperated.
Daniels finished with a team-high 24 points but his three turnovers proved crucial in the finish — one on a missed lay-up when he was expecting contact and another when he fumbled a pass from Jermaine Beal that led to Motum’s breakaway dunk.
Jesse Wagstaff stepped up for Perth in the absence of Matt Knight (23 points and seven rebounds) with Tom Jervis also a strong contributor with 13 points, nine boards and five assists.
Shawn Redhage scored 19 points to go with eight points and five assists but again was hampered by foul trouble.
Perth now faces a huge challenge to maintain third position. The Wildcats host Melbourne on Wednesday night then head to North Queensland for the Sunshine Swing — Townsville on Friday night and Cairns on Saturday.
Adelaide, meanwhile, hosts the bottom-place Wollongong Hawks on Sunday and then again plays
the Hawks in Wollongong on Friday.
Adelaide 36ers 106 (Brock Motum 31, Jamar Wilson 19, Anthony Petrie 15) Perth Wildcats 102 (DeAndre Daniels 24, Jesse Wagstaff 23, Shawn Redhage 19). Crowd: 13,559 at Perth Arena
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