{"id":494297,"date":"2026-02-21T08:47:15","date_gmt":"2026-02-21T08:47:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/494297\/"},"modified":"2026-02-21T08:47:15","modified_gmt":"2026-02-21T08:47:15","slug":"wells-calls-out-perth-star","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/494297\/","title":{"rendered":"Wells calls out Perth star"},"content":{"rendered":"

Friday\u2019s Round 22 fixture between the Perth Wildcats and Adelaide 36ers at RAC Arena felt like a playoff game.<\/p>\n

Not only was the fixture extremely intense, but emotions ran high all night.<\/p>\n

So much so, they actually boiled over at full-time, with rival coaches, Mike Wells and John Rillie, exchanging pleasantries in the handshake line.<\/p>\n

In the post-game press conference, 36ers coach Wells played down the on-court altercation.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn’t a big deal to me what happened at the end, but I didn’t think JLA (Jo Lual-Acuil Jr.) needed to go and score at the end when the points differential was no longer a factor for either team,\u201d Well said in the post-game press conference.<\/p>\n

\u201cBoth teams were in the playoffs already, so I saw no real need.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lual-Acuil Jr. threw down a big dunk with ten seconds remaining in the game, with the Wildcats already 10 points ahead. <\/p>\n

Rillie, whose team won the fixture 86-74, chimed in on the matter too during his post-game interview.<\/p>\n

\u201cMike can have his thoughts on those moments that happen in a game, but I’m fine with what happened,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAmericans often don’t understand the cultural difference, so it\u2019s a learning experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

The inaugural NBL Ignite Cup Final between Adelaide and New Zealand tips off at 4.30pm AEDT on Sunday, live on ESPN and Channel 10.<\/p>\n

Then the NBL26 Finals tip off on Wednesday, March 4, with the Seeding Qualifier between South East Melbourne and Perth at John Cain Arena from 7.30pm AEDT, live on ESPN.<\/p>\n

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