New Year's Day usually involves nursing a hangover or making resolutions you’ll break by Tuesday. But for the NBL, it’s about business. Specifically, the business of the Perth Wildcats vs Brisbane Bullets rivalry, which took a wild turn to kick off 2026.
If you just looked at the final score—95-75 in favor of Perth—you’d think it was a standard walk in the park for the Red Army. It wasn't. For about twenty minutes of basketball at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, it actually looked like the Bullets were going to pull off the upset of the season. Then, the third quarter happened.
Honestly, it was one of those "blink and you'll miss it" collapses that leaves a coach staring at the ceiling wondering where it all went wrong.
The Tale of Two Halves
Basketball is a game of runs. We hear that all the time. But a 21-0 run? That's not a run; that's a home invasion.
Brisbane actually went into the halftime break with a 44-40 lead. They had just put together their best second quarter of the entire season, outscoring Perth 28-15. Tyrell Harrison was doing his thing inside before a nasty collision with Mitch Norton sent him to the sidelines. Even with Harrison out, Jacob Holt stepped up in a big way, looking like a man possessed with 13 first-half points.
Then came the third quarter.
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Perth didn't just win the quarter; they deleted Brisbane from the court. They scored the first 21 points of the half. Imagine being a Bullets fan, coming back from the concession stand with a fresh drink, and watching your team go scoreless for over five minutes straight. By the time the dust settled, Perth had won the period 31-11. Basically, the game was over before the fourth quarter even started.
Why the Perth Wildcats Are So Dangerous Right Now
The scary thing about this Wildcats roster is the depth. They didn't even have David Duke Jr. available because of an elbow injury. Usually, losing a guy of that caliber would stall an offense. Instead, the 'Cats just shared the love.
- Jo Lual-Acuil Jr: He walked away with Broadcast Player of the Game honors. 17 points, 8 rebounds, and a physical presence that Brisbane simply couldn't match once Harrison went down.
- Elijah Pepper: The kid is a flamethrower. He dropped 12 points during that massive 21-0 run alone. He finished with 14.
- Ben Henshall: He’s becoming the X-factor for John Rillie. 12 points, 3 assists, and 3 steals. He’s active, he’s annoying to play against, and he’s starting to find his rhythm.
- Dylan Windler: Another 12-point contribution.
When you have four or five guys hitting double digits and playing high-level defense, you're hard to beat. Head coach John Rillie mentioned after the game that they felt they were wearing Brisbane down even when they were trailing at the half. That’s a veteran mindset. They didn't panic; they just waited for the dam to break.
The Brisbane Bullets' Identity Crisis
It’s been a rough trot for the Bullets lately. They’ve now copped ten losses this season by 20 points or more. That’s a stat that’ll keep Darryl McDonald up at night.
D-Mac is still early in his tenure after replacing Stu Lash, and you can see the flashes of what he wants to do. The ball movement in the second quarter was beautiful. But the "disintegration"—and that’s the only word for it—in the second half is a massive red flag.
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Losing Tyrell Harrison was the turning point. He’s the anchor of that team. When he went out, the interior defense evaporated. Combine that with Javon Freeman-Liberty tweaking a hamstring and new import Hunter Maldonado sitting on the sidelines waiting for government clearance, and you’ve got a recipe for a blowout.
The Bullets shot just 12-of-29 from the field in the second half. You can't beat a powerhouse like Perth shooting like that. It’s just not going to happen.
Head-to-Head: A Pattern of Perth Dominance?
If we look at the Perth Wildcats vs Brisbane Bullets matchups across the 2025-26 season, a clear trend is emerging.
Back in December, Perth went into Brisbane and walked away with an 86-62 win. It was a professional, defensive clinic. Brisbane did manage to snag a win earlier in the season—a 110-93 victory at RAC Arena in Round 5 where Casey Prather went nuclear for 34 points—but since then, Perth has figured them out.
Perth’s ability to rotate players without losing intensity is the difference-maker. They currently sit at 12-10, consolidating their spot in the top five. Brisbane, meanwhile, is languishing at 6-17. The gap between the mid-table contenders and the bottom tier has never looked wider than it did on New Year’s Day.
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Comparing the Key Stats
| Category | Perth Wildcats | Brisbane Bullets |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 95 | 75 |
| Top Scorer | Lual-Acuil Jr (17) | Jacob Holt (17) |
| Turnovers Forced | 12 | 16 |
| 3rd Quarter Pts | 31 | 11 |
What Most People Get Wrong About This Matchup
The common narrative is that Perth is just "too talented." While they have stars, this specific win was built on conditioning and defensive discipline.
The Wildcats forced Brisbane into 12 turnovers in the second half alone. They turned the game into a track meet. Most people think Brisbane just "gave up," but if you watch the tape, it was Perth's off-ball pressure that forced the collapse. David Okwera didn't light up the scoreboard with 8 points, but his 6 rebounds and 4 assists kept the engine humming while the stars were resting.
The Road Ahead
Perth is heading to New Zealand to face the Breakers next. That’s going to be a much tougher physical test. If David Duke Jr. remains out, they’ll need Henshall and Pepper to replicate that New Year’s energy.
Brisbane has to host the league-leading Adelaide 36ers. Honestly, it doesn't get any easier. They desperately need Hunter Maldonado to get cleared and Tyrell Harrison to be okay. Without their big man and a steady hand at point guard, the Bullets risk the rest of their season spiraling into a series of "what ifs."
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts:
- Watch the 3rd Quarter Splits: Perth is currently one of the best "adjusting" teams in the league. If they are within 5 points at halftime, they are a high-value pick to win the third term.
- Monitor the Injury Report: The status of Tyrell Harrison's injury will dictate Brisbane's defensive ceiling for the next month.
- Keep an eye on Ben Henshall: His minutes are trending upward, and his defensive stats (steals/deflections) are becoming elite for his age group.
The Perth Wildcats vs Brisbane Bullets game might have ended as a 20-point blowout, but it serves as a masterclass in how defensive pressure can completely dismantle an opponent's rhythm in under ten minutes.
Check the NBL standings to see how Perth's road trip concludes and keep an eye on the official Bullets social media for updates on Harrison's medical status.