Lual-Acuil Leads Wildcats Past McGee and Hawks

Jo Lual-Acuil Jr and JaVale McGee went head-to-head in a heavyweight showdown of big men, but it was the Perth Wildcats who emerged victorious, overturning a slow start to beat the Illawarra Hawks 92–84 at RAC Arena on Thursday night.

The Hawks jumped to a 14-point lead early, riding McGee’s presence inside and Perth’s ice-cold shooting in an open-air contest that began in brutal fashion for the home side. The Wildcats went more than four minutes without a basket, missing their first nine three-point attempts and shooting just 3-of-16 from the field in the opening term to trail 20–10.

McGee, fresh from a 32-point, 13-rebound debut, picked up where he left off. The three-time NBA champion and Olympic gold medallist punished Perth at both ends, finishing with 26 points, 14 rebounds and four steals while briefly sending a scare through the Hawks’ camp when he left the floor clutching his knee after a collision with Lual-Acuil. He returned soon after, but Illawarra’s reliance on him proved costly as the game wore on.

Lual-Acuil steadied Perth and grew into the contest, finishing with 22 points, three rebounds, three blocks, and two steals. His work attacking McGee off the dribble in the third quarter turned the momentum decisively in the Wildcats’ favour. Kristian Doolittle continued his strong start to the season with 17 points, nine rebounds, and four assists, while Dylan Windler provided a massive double-double of 16 points and 14 boards. Mason Jones added 12 points and four assists in an improved performance.

Development guard Jaron Rillie once again proved to be a difference-maker. After posting a +21 plus-minus in six minutes against New Zealand last week, he was +25 in 13 minutes here, his energy and decision-making shifting the flow of the game.

For Illawarra, McGee and Tyler Harvey carried the load, with Harvey scoring 19 points and five assists, but shooting just 6-of-19. Wani Swaka Lo Buluk impressed with 14 points on 4-of-5 from deep, while Jaquori McLaughlin battled his shot to finish with 13 points at 3-of-12.

The Hawks still led by double digits midway through the second quarter, but Windler and Doolittle ignited Perth’s revival. Their defensive pressure forced turnovers and indecision, and the Wildcats went into halftime ahead 44–43. By three-quarter time, the margin had swelled to 67–56, and the home side never relinquished control. Illawarra closed the gap late, but Perth’s depth and resilience proved too much.

For John Rillie’s side, the win was a timely response to last week’s disappointing home defeat to Tasmania. For Illawarra, despite McGee’s brilliance, the lack of consistent support leaves them 0–2 and searching for rhythm early in their championship defence.

Perth now travels to Cairns next Friday night to meet the Taipans, while Illawarra heads to Auckland on Thursday to face the winless New Zealand Breakers.

Final score: Perth Wildcats 92 defeated Illawarra Hawks 84.