The Perth Wildcats, who currently sit third on the NBL standings, have been dealt a major injury blow to marquee big man Jo Lual-Acuil Jr, while an import has also returned to the United States, leaving the club with further roster concerns ahead of tomorrow night’s clash against Melbourne United.
All this and more on NBL Daily.
The Wildcats, who hold a 4-2 record, have confirmed that Lual-Acuil Jr will remain sidelined until at least the FIBA break, which runs from November 24 to December 2, after suffering a setback in his recovery from a calf injury.
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It leaves Perth facing a challenging stretch, with eight games to navigate without their star centre, having already suffered a heavy 102-81 defeat to reigning champions Sydney Kings last round.
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Lual-Acuil Jr has played just three games this season, averaging 14.3 points and 6.7 rebounds in 23.9 minutes per game, while shooting 50.0% from the field before suffering the calf injury earlier this month.
Since his absence, the Wildcats have managed two wins and one loss, but if they are to remain in the hunt for a top-four finish, they will need to consistently find ways to make up for his presence on both ends of the court.
In an Instagram post, the club confirmed that Lual-Acuil Jr had suffered a setback, which Fox Sports Australia understands occurred during a training session.
While the Wildcats have ruled him out until at least the FIBA break, there is no confirmed timeline for his return, with the club expected to provide a further update in late November.
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It means there is every possibility the big man could remain sidelined beyond the break, depending on how his recovery progresses.
For Perth, the biggest concern may not necessarily be its offensive production, with the Wildcats possessing enough firepower to compete with the league’s best.
Instead, it is their defensive presence inside the paint that will face a significant test without Lual-Acuil Jr, particularly with Perth currently holding the second-worst defensive rating in the NBL at 122.1.
And the injury concerns do not end there.
The Wildcats have also confirmed that import Jimmy Whitt, who occupies the club’s Nominated Replacement Player position, has returned to the United States for personal reasons.
The news comes after Whitt produced his best performance in a Wildcats jersey against the Kings, stepping up in the absence of Kristian Doolittle.
In 24 minutes, Whitt finished with 15 points while also taking on the difficult defensive assignment of guarding Sydney superstar Kendric Davis.
The club has confirmed that a further update on Whitt will be provided when available, leaving uncertainty surrounding his immediate availability.
For now, the Wildcats must turn their attention to tomorrow night’s clash against Melbourne United, with Perth looking to bounce back from its disappointing defeat to Sydney while navigating two significant roster setbacks.