Davis dazzles, but 36ers fall to Wildcats

The return of Kendric Davis was not enough as the Adelaide 36ers fell 115-105 to Perth Wildcats at the Entertainment Centre on Sunday afternoon.

In front of 9352 people, Davis led from the front for the home side, scoring a team-high 37 points to go with 11 assists and five rebounds, while Isaac Humphries was huge inside for 25 points and five rebounds.

Adelaide held an 89-83 lead with eight minutes remaining, but Bryce Cotton scored 11 of his game-high 49 points down the stretch as the Wildcats took a 10-point win.

READ MORE

• TEAM SCOUT: Operation Bryce in order for 36ers
• PRESS CALL: Wells positive despite defeat to Bullets
• MATCH WRAP: 36ers go down to Bullets on the road
  
• Surreal feeling for young gun Rasmussen
  
• Inaugural season honoured for NBL25 Heritage Round

Sunday Dech (13 points) opened the scoring right off the opening tip, and then Davis scored 10 points in three minutes.

Nick Marshall (nine points) swished a three from a Davis assist, then Humphries scored on consecutive offensive trips, his big slam dunk giving Adelaide an early 20-12 lead.

Perth responded with a 7-0 run, but Jason Cadee made an instant impact off the bench, swishing back-to-back three-pointers as the 36ers took a 32-29 lead into the first break.

Davis swished another three-pointer to start the second quarter as the 36ers extended their lead to 41-34.

The Wildcats then scored six straight points before Lat Mayen found Dech inside, then Davis scored again and when Dech connected from downtown, Adelaide had a 48-40 lead.

Adelaide extended the lead to 53-40 after another big Humphries dunk, then Cotton scored 12 straight points as Perth reduced the 36ers’ lead to just three points.

Davis finished the first half in style, going coast-to-coast to score on the buzzer as Adelaide took a 60-54 lead into the main break.

Humphries scored inside to open the third quarter and Adelaide built a 66-57 lead before Cotton again led another Wildcats response.

Perth went on a 12-0 run to take their first lead of the game at 69-66, but Humphries sparked Adelaide, scoring six straight points to give the 36ers back the lead at 72-71.

Davis got to the free throw line, Marshall scored on a tough drive and when Martin swished a three-pointer the 36ers had an 81-74 lead.

But the Wildcats scored the final five points of the quarter as Adelaide took an 82-79 lead into the final 10 minutes.

Davis swished a three-pointer to open the final quarter, and when Humphries scored again, the 36ers’ lead was six points.

But Perth then went on a 12-2 run, led by Cotton to regain the lead at 93-91 and the visitors had all answers down the stretch.

Adelaide will be back at home on Saturday night when the 36ers host New Zealand Breakers at the Entertainment Centre from 5pm ACDT.

PERTH WILDCATS 115 (Cotton 49, Henshall 15, Windler 13) def ADELAIDE 36ERS 105 (Davis 37, Humphries 25, Dech 13) at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.
Crowd: 9352
BOX SCORE