The Perth Wildcats' 2024 NBL campaign got off to a rocky start on Sunday afternoon, suffering an 89-78 defeat against the South East Melbourne Phoenix at John Cain Arena.
In what proved to be a challenging debut for American import David Duke Jr, the Wildcats struggled to find their rhythm against a determined Phoenix squad that controlled the game from start to finish.
Promising Signs Despite the Loss
While the final score didn't go their way, there were positive takeaways for the Wildcats. David Duke Jr showed flashes of the talent that made him such an exciting acquisition, finishing with 13 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists in his first NBL appearance.
"I thought David showed some really good moments," said Wildcats coach John Rillie. "It's his first game in our system, and there's definitely more to come as he settles into the league."
Phoenix Dominance on Display
The South East Melbourne outfit came out firing, establishing early control and never really letting the Wildcats back into the contest. Their offensive execution and defensive pressure proved too much for Perth to handle on the road.
"We knew they'd be tough at home, but we didn't execute our game plan the way we needed to," Rillie admitted. "There's plenty for us to work on heading into our next game."
What's Next for the Wildcats?
Despite the opening round disappointment, the Wildcats have plenty of basketball ahead to turn things around. The team will be looking to bounce back quickly as they continue their early-season campaign.
With Duke Jr now having his first NBL minutes under his belt and the team getting more familiar with each other, Perth fans can expect to see improvement as the season progresses.
