DREWITT’S BULBS MATCH PREVIEW: Phoenix head West to secure spot in Ignite Cup Final

The Phoenix begin their road trip in Perth, taking on the Wildcats in their final Ignite Cup game as they look to secure a spot in the Final.

Key Details

PERTH WILDCATS(16-11) 5th vs SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX (19-8) 2nd
Where: RAC Arena, Perth
When: Wednesday, January 28 at 9:30pm AEDT
Watch: ESPN

Josh King’s side hit the road for Round 19 with match-ups against Perth and Adelaide, continuing their push to cement a top-two finish.

The Phoenix return to Perth a fortnight after HoopsFest to face the Wildcats, who are coming off a heartbreaking one-point loss to Melbourne United.

South East Melbourne closed out their home stretch at State Basketball Centre with back-to-back wins over the New Zealand Breakers and Cairns Taipans.

Both the Phoenix and Wildcats remain in contention for a spot in the Ignite Cup Final, where the winner will face the Breakers on February 22. The Phoenix currently sit seventh on the Ignite Cup ladder with 12.5 points, while Perth are fifth on 13 points.

They are not the only side in the mix, with the Adelaide 36ers also still in contention. Adelaide sit third on 15 points and play Brisbane earlier on Wednesday night.

The last time the two sides met was in Round 15, when Perth handed the Phoenix their only loss at State Basketball Centre this season, winning by 10 points.

TEAMS

Phoenix

The Phoenix will go in unchanged to Wednesday’s game.

Wildcats

TheWildcats will also go in unchanged to tomorrow’s game.

KEEP ANEYE ON

Who will be hot on Wednesday night?

The Phoenix continue to showcase their offensive depth, with scoring able to come from any position on any given night. In the win over Cairns, Sixth Man of the Year contender Angus Glover showed why he is in the conversation, knocking down five of the Phoenix’s 21 three-pointers on his way to a game-high 22 points.

Import Ian Clark has also found his rhythm in Phoenix colours, recording three consecutive double-digit scoring games as he continues to grow into Josh King’s system.

HISTORY

Head-to-Head
Phoenix 10-16 Wildcats

Last timeout – Rd16, NBL26
Phoenix 97-107 Wildcats

Phoenix
Iwundu 27p
Sobey 24p
Brown III 9p

Wildcats
Windler 27p
Doolittle 24p
Pepper 18p