NBL: Perth Wildcats add to the misery of Brisbane Bullets

The Perth Wildcats pulled off one the club’s best comeback victories to continue Brisbane’s misery.

Perth’s Jean-Pierre Tokoto gets a pass away during the Wildcats’ one-point win over Brisbane Bullets. Picture: Getty Images

The Perth Wildcats pulled off one the club’s best comeback victories to continue Brisbane’s misery yesterday.

The Bullets led by 21 points at one stage, before Perth import Bryce Cotton hit an amazing running basket to steal the game off them at the death, 81-80.

With their NBL season already on life support, Brisbane jumped a flat Perth from the start, racing out to a shock 10-3 lead early and then extending it to 26-18 at quarter time.

Perth looked off the pace backing up for their fifth road game since losing to Illawarra in Wollongong on December 23.

When Brisbane import Stephen Holt nailed a hat-trick of uncontested three-point shots the deficit blew out to 37-16 early in the second term and there didn’t appear any way back for the Wildcats.

But Brisbane’s worrying trait of squandering good leads continued as the visitors launched a stunning comeback after entering the final quarter trailing 62-57.

Cotton, who had just two points going into the final quarter, finished with 13 points, including the matchwinning basket. He was well supported by JP Tokoto (16 points and seven rebounds) and a valuable eight rebounds from American Derek Cooke Jnr.

For Brisbane, import Travis Trice led the way with 18 points including a pressure three-point bomb from the left wing, which had put the Bullets in front 80-79 with just a few seconds left.

AAP