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Perth Wildcats on top of NBL with Sydney Kings OT win

NBL

The Perth Wildcats will go in to the final round of NBL action on top of the ladder after a thrilling 95-86 come-from-behind win in overtime against the Sydney Kings on Sunday.

The Wildcats took a long time to shrug off the nine-day break since their win over the Illawarra Hawks in round 16.

Sydney also carried momentum from their win over Melbourne United on Friday to lead 26-12 at the first break, but their lead was cut to 10 points by half-time.

Bryce Cotton didn't score until 71 seconds before three-quarter-time, having been kept quiet by Kevin Lisch and Jerome Randle.

But he dropped 10 points in the final quarter and 14 points in overtime to finish with a game-high 27 points.

Before that, Angus Brandt had kept the Cats in the game, with 19 points to three-quarter-time; 13 of them in the third quarter; and nearly all of them in the paint against Andrew Bogut.

Not that Bogut had a bad game.

His 16 points and 15 rebounds means he will go in to the finals with a double-double against every team in the competition.

Cats coach Trevor Gleeson paid tribute to Brandt's performance.

"He gave us a focal point to look on; when you are playing on one of the best defensive players, not only in Australia but the world and taking it to him," Gleeson said.

"He kind of kept us in there and then Bryce started hitting some shots.

"We know what Bryce can do. When he scored 45 points in a final a couple of years ago he didn't score in the first quarter."

Randle also blew off a slow start offensively to finish with 25 points.

Andrew Gaze shared the blame for the loss with his Kings players.

"So, you're three points up with 20 seconds to go and we had fouls to give. You have to be cautious because you don't want to foul a three-point shooter," he said.

"But bugger me, if it isn't Damian Martin that comes and knocks down a three to send it to overtime.

"Unfortunately in overtime we had a couple of turnovers and perhaps the long weekend took its toll.

"In hindsight, I probably erred in some of rotations, but we're all geniuses in hindsight."

That Martin bomb tied the scores at 77-apiece after the Kings had led by five points with just three minutes left on the clock.

The Wildcats captain dropped seven points in that final three minutes to finish with 15.

The final placings in the top four still need to be worked out.

Perth is ahead of both Sydney and Melbourne United on percentage and face the latter and the Adelaide 36ers next weekend.

A win in Melbourne will cement them in top spot, regardless of other results.

The Kings, who dropped from first to third with the loss to Perth, face the Cairns Taipans next week, with second spot still a chance.

Melbourne also play the Taipans before hosting Perth.

Adelaide may need to beat Perth on Friday night to stop Brisbane from knocking them out of fourth spot.

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