The embattled Bullets aren’t helping the cause of interim coach Darryl McDonald winning the job in full-time capacity with another 20-point loss coming on Thursday night — the club’s 10th in 23 games this season.
The 95-75 defeat marked four losses in five games for coach DMac, who is trying to energise a team that is defensively poor and has had more roster changes than the Liberal Party.
Brisbane led 44-40 at half time in a less-than-exciting New Year’s Day clash but fell to a fatal, 31-11 third-quarter bite by the willing Wildcats.
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Just three days after DMac went public with a passionate plea to stay in charge at the club, his players failed to respond with an ugly opening to the second half marring what could’ve been a rallying display of pride. Instead, Brisbane threw a total of 16 turnovers and scored just 31 points in the second half.
Stealthy Wildcat Elijah Pepper was pivotal in Perth’s 21-nil run out of half time, the sharpshooting 24-year-old adding spice with 12 points and a highlight four-point play.
David Okwera also aimed up with two corner threes but it was Brisbane’s inability to treasure possession that hurt them most.
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MAN DOWN
There was a moment early in the second quarter that summed up the Bullets’ season perfectly. Big Tyrell Harrison, after scoring eight points in the first, got a great steal but butted heads with teammate Mitch Norton hustling for the loose ball and both fell to the ground.
Harrison did not return to the court. It has been the case often this season, when Brisbane does something well it goes up in flames.
While Brisbane’s most consistent player was off the court, the Jacob-Holt inspired hosts hotted up and turned a nine-point quarter time deficit into a 44-40 lead entering the third.
It vanished quickly.
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HOLT’S HOTTING UP
It was ugly hoops during the first half but Holt’s 13-point barrage gave the home side a massive lift.
After shooting a dismal 6-17 in the first and going scoreless for about three minutes, Brisbane needed someone to step up.
There was a sloppy airball by Alex Ducas, a halfcourt turnover by key import Javon Freeman-Liberty out of the break and another error when JFL and Sam McDaniel botched an uncontested rebound by not being on the same page.
But the calamitous times meant Canadian forward Holt could shine. He came out well, won defensive boards, knocked down two threes and was full of energy (15pts, 7rbs, 2asts, 1blk).
Perth picked up its game out of the main break, scoring 21 unanswered points to take a 61-44 lead that wasn’t surrendered.
Less than 24 hours after fireworks lit up the river city, there was simply no firepower left over for the boys in blue (28-66 field goal shooting).
Perth powerhouse Jo Lual-Acuil Jr was elite with 17 points and eight rebounds.
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