A determined and self-described "pissed-off" Kristian Doolittle has powered the Perth Wildcats to a hard-fought 94-85 road victory over the Tasmania JackJumpers, delivering a statement performance to silence his recent critics.
Doolittle Answers Critics with Dominant Display
After a quiet stretch across his previous three outings, where he managed just 17 points combined, Doolittle exploded for a game-high 30 points, six rebounds, and two assists at Hobart's MyState Bank Arena on Sunday, 21 December 2025. The American forward admitted his recent form had left him feeling guilty and driven by a need to win back his teammates' trust.
"I was just playing pissed off and with a point to prove," Doolittle revealed post-game. "Having a feeling like I’d let my team down fuelled me... I wanted to be someone who could be counted on." He credited a week of intense, focused practice for his resurgence, stating he refused to "give myself a pass" for his earlier struggles.
His scoring burst was perfectly timed, with 11 points in the second quarter steadying the Wildcats and 12 in the final period slamming the door shut on any JackJumpers comeback.
Windler Ankle Injury Sours Crucial Win
The significant triumph was severely dampened by a worrying injury to import forward Dylan Windler. The former NBA player went down in clear agony during the last quarter after stepping on the foot of Tasmania's Will Magnay, clutching his right ankle.
Windler, who has a history of ankle problems, had to be helped from the court. The club is now awaiting scans to determine the severity of the sprain. The timing offers a small silver lining, with the Wildcats' next game not scheduled until 28 December.
"He rolled his ankle so we’ll see the severity of it over the next day," said head coach John Rillie. "The good thing is we don’t play again until the 28th so our medical [team] can handle that."
Wildcats Show Resilience Amidst Adversity
The win was particularly impressive given Perth's depleted roster. The team was already missing Ben Henshall, Jesse Wagstaff, and Jaron Rillie through injury before losing Windler during the contest.
In response, several players stepped up. David Duke Jnr provided 16 points and four steals, while Jo Lual-Acuil added 12 points and five rebounds. Elijah Pepper chipped in with 10 points, and the energy of David Okwera proved invaluable off the bench.
Coach Rillie praised his team's aggressive 40-minute effort, a direct response to their loss to South East Melbourne Phoenix just days earlier. "We were just staying aggressive with the way we played the game at both ends of the floor," Rillie said. "That was really pleasing to see."
The victory keeps Perth firmly in the NBL playoff hunt, but the team's immediate focus will be on the medical report for Dylan Windler as they prepare for their next challenge.
