The Perth Wildcats held off a late charge from the Illawarra Hawks to win 92-87 on January 16, 2026. In a gritty contest, Perth's veteran core made the necessary plays down the stretch to secure a hard-earned home victory. The Wildcats controlled much of the game, establishing a lead that stretched to 15 points in the third quarter. However, the young Hawks refused to quit, mounting a furious comeback in the final period behind energetic full-court pressure. Perth's composure was tested, but they responded with clutch free-throw shooting and a key defensive stop in the final minute to seal the win. The result kept Perth firmly in the hunt for a top-two finish, while Illawarra's fighting spirit in defeat offered positives for their development. Wildcats coach praised his team's ability to close out a tough game, and the Hawks' coach commended his players' never-say-die attitude. Perth's starting lineup provided balanced scoring to overcome a stellar individual performance from an Illawarra guard.