Gear up for an intense Thursday Night NBL showdown between the Perth Wildcats and the Illawarra Hawks at the RAC Arena.
Bryce Cotton, the top contender for NBL MVP this season, is on an absolute tear, delivering some of the league’s most impressive individual performances in recent times.
With Coach John Rillie giving Cotton the freedom to do his thing, the Wildcats have emerged victorious in a staggering 13 out of their last 15 matchups. The entire team is rallying behind Cotton’s brilliance and they are now one of the top contenders to challenge for the NBL24 Title.
Meanwhile, the Illawarra Hawks, under the guidance of new coach Justin Tatum, have tasted success but are eager to snap a three-game losing streak.
It’s a clash of two teams with different trajectories—Perth riding high on a wave of victories, and the Hawks seeking to regain their form.
Here is a Perth Wildcats vs Illawarra Hawks Prediction for Thursday, January 25th 2024
Perth Wildcats vs Illawarra Hawks
Venue – RAC Arena
Tip Off – 6.30pm WST
Season Record
| Team | W-L | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perth | 15-7 | 9-2 | 6-5 |
| Illawarra | 9-12 | 5-6 | 4-6 |
Season Scoring
| Team | PPG | Opp PPG | Game Total Ave |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perth | 95 | 91.2 | 186.2 |
| Illawarra | 89.9 | 91.1 | 181 |
Quick Game Facts
- The Perth Wildcats are on a six-game winning streak
- The Illawarra Hawks are on a three-game losing streak
- Each of the Illawarra Hawks last five games have gone over the projected Game Total
Quick Player Facts – Perth Wildcats
- Bryce Cotton is averaging 28.5 points in the Wildcats 15 wins this season. In the 7 losses, Cotton has an average of 14.9 points per game
- Bryce Cotton has scored 24+ points in 14 of his past 15 games
- Tai Webster is averaging 18.7 points and 5 assists across his last 3 games
Quick Player Facts – Illawarra Hawks
- Sam Froling is averaging 9 rebounds across his last 4 games
- Tyler Harvey is averaging 20.3 points and 4 assists across his last 4 games
- Justin Robinson is 0/13 from the field across his last 2 games
Prediction
The Illawarra Hawks have been the only side that has been able to stop Bryce Cotton over the last 15 games. In the match on the 8th of December, Illawarra won 100-82 against Perth and held Bryce Cotton to just 7 points.
The Hawks are playing better basketball under their new coach, but trying to stop a red-hot Perth side from winning their 8th consecutive match at RAC Arena will be a big ask.