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WAS it a goal tend? Was it an offensive hook? Questions and queries about the officiating in Game 1 of the NBL's semi final series between Sydney and Perth overshadowed the post-game of what was another epic battle that included heroic moments from the unlikeliest of characters, such as Makuach Maluach.

That it should come down to a 105-104 decision in front of another 10,000-plus crowd in Sydney, and the Wildcats with a couple of late chances to pinch a road win, spoke volumes to the type of tight battle it turned into.

Kendric Davis, arguably the second-best player in the league - he's who you'll have the argument with - followed in Bryce Cotton's shoes with a potential game-breaking 35 points at 67 per cent and a sizzling 5-of-7 threes.

He also dished six assists, had two steals and grabbed three defensive boards.

But unlike Cotton on Wednesday who had no Phoenix opponent who could go with him, Davis did, Kristian Doolittle lighting it up for the Wildcats.

Doolittle's 31 points came at 59 per cent but he was shooting at an even better clip until the Kings swung Matthew Dellavedova onto him.

While enjoying a great offensive game with 20 points, nine rebounds and three assists, Torrey Craig was simply unable to curb Doolittle's influence once the Perth import had his eye in.

Virtually unguardable, he ensured Perth was forever either in the driver's seat or breathing down the driver's neck until Dellavedova was tried late. Giving up size but not weight, Delly muscled and played Doolittle as tightly as possible, forcing him into a much tougher array of shot options.

In Game 2, no doubt Perth coach John Rillie will send Doolittle down to the low block to overpower Dellavedova with his obvious size advantage, instead of him playing around the 3-point line where Delly had the advantage.

In a game with a whopping 56 lead changes, both teams had truly significant contributions, but not always from the obvious candidates.

For the Kings, Jaylin Galloway enjoyed a second-half purple patch right when his team needed it and Maluach had some wonderful moments at both ends of the floor.

His block of a Jo Lual-Acuil two-handed dunk attempt that was a certain basket after a great feed out of a double-team by Doolittle, was absolute jump-from-your-seat athletic.

A late free throw make also was significant and Xavier Cooks, who was living in Struggle Town almost all game, managed to come through down the stretch, even icing free throws in the endgame.

For Perth, Lual-Acuil's 19-point, 12-rebound double was major, his media-fuelled "feud" with Tim Soares actually amounting to considerably less than nothing.

Dylan Windler struck 5-of-8 threes - a couple from Newcastle - but it was David Duke who thrived.

Teammate Ben Henshall collecting early fouls and appearing to also hurt himself was an unexpected plus for the Wildcats.

With Henshall - who far too often erroneously considers himself the team's best offensive option - playing only 12:35, Duke not only had time to find the pace but also to dominate, en route to 20 points, six rebounds and eight assists.

It was his best game since returning from his elbow injury and means Rillie can try a few new ideas in Saturday's Game 2.

Maluach's free throw made it 105-101 at 43 seconds remaining but Doolittle's three-point play within 10 seconds meant the contest was alive again.

When Sydney missed its last attack, the Wildcats had 11 seconds to fashion a winning play, Doolittle's intention after snaring the defensive rebound blatantly obvious.

Driving and pulling up for a mid-range jumper, Craig partially blocked it, Lual-Acuil's rushed rebound and tip-in missing, Duke's offensive board and tap also astray, the ball in Dellavedova's hands as the siren had Kings fans on their feet. 

NBL PLAYOFFS 2026

Best-of-3 Semi Finals

Game 1: Sydney Kings 105 (Davis 35, Craig 20, Dellavedova 11, Cooks 10; Craig 9 rebs; Davis 6 assts) d Perth Wildcats 104 (Doolittle 31, Duke 20, Lual-Acuil 19, Windler 17, Pepper 12; Lual-Acuil 12 rebs; Duke 8 assts) at Qudos Bank Arena. Crowd: 10,132

Game 2: Saturday, RAC Arena

Game 3 (if required): Wednesday, March 18 in Sydney

Game 1: Adelaide 36ers 104 (Cotton 42, Vasiljevic 17, Rakocevic 14, Cheatham 13; Rakocevic 10 rebs; Flynn, Cheatham, Cotton 5 assts) d South East Melbourne Phoenix 97 (Sobey 23, Glover, Hunter 14, Clark 12; Sobey 10 rebs; Sobey 7 assts) at Adelaide Entertainment Centre. Crowd: 10,055

Game 2: Saturday, John Cain Arena

Game 3 (if required): Tuesday, March 17 in Adelaide

KO Qualifying Final

Perth Wildcats 95 (Lual-Acuil 28, Doolittle 24, Windler 18; Lual-Acuil 12 rebs; Doolittle, Henshall 6 assts) d Melbourne United 77 (Doyle 13, Edwards, Walker 12; Edwards 8 rebs; Delany 3 assts) at RAC Arena. Crowd: 6,731. Wildcats advance to semi finals v Sydney Kings.

Qualifying Final (3v4)

South East Melbourne Phoenix 111 (Sobey 24, Foxwell 18, Clark 16, Glover 12; Brown 8 rebs; Sobey 7 assts) d Perth Wildcats 94 (Doolittle 22, Windler 13, Lual-Acuil, Henshall, Duke 11; Huefner, Lual-Acuil, Doolittle 6 rebs; Windler 7 assts) at John Cain Arena. Crowd: 3,891 Phoenix progress to semi finals v Adelaide 36ers.

Elimination Final (5v6)

Melbourne United 82 (Delany 33, Doyle 19, Krebs 11; Krslovic 7 rebs; Walker, Doyle 6 assts) d Tasmania JackJumpers 68 (Marshall 20, Johnson, Bannan 16, Campbell 12; Deng 9 rebs; Campbell 6 assts) at John Cain Arena. Crowd: 5,071. Melbourne advances to KO final with Perth Wildcats.