Perth Wildcats to be without Tai Webster and Bryce Cotton for Friday night’s NBL game against Sydney Kings

Perth Wildcats’ horror run of injuries has risen to a new level with Tai Webster joining superstar Bryce Cotton on the sidelines for Friday night’s game against the Sydney Kings.

Webster has suffered an adductor injury, just weeks after recovering from a calf injury, and won’t play against the Kings. Perth are now facing the daunting prospect of being without both him and Cotton who is recovering from a fractured rib.

The Wildcats have struggled to get their best team on the court with Dylan Windler and Keanu Pinder also missing games this season.

Coach John Rillie knows replacing Cotton’s scoring power is going to require a group effort.

“It’s going to have to be a group effort and an accumulation,” he said.

“The likes of Pepper and Henshall with their scoring ability, we will need that. Then there’s someone like Dylan Windler. Doolittle can pick up some slack. There will be other people that get the opportunity. It’s going to be really exciting for me to see how this unfolds.

“Injury is a part of sport. It’s very disappointing for Bryce to have this. He is an integral piece of our team but now the opportunity and challenge is for everyone else to take what’s in front of them. That’s what I’m excited about. Guys will get opportunity and we get to see how we perform as a team without Bryce.”

“The gravity that Bryce commands whether the ball is in his hands or out of his hands is astronomical. So the shots will not certainly be the same but our general structure remains the same.”

Sydney beat the Wildcats by one point earlier in the season and will enter the game with a 5-2 record. The Wildcats are 2-4.

Pinder struggled in that loss to the Kings, scoring just one point and having four turnovers. It began a stretch of matches where the star centre hasn’t had his usual impact.

Pinder has spent more time shooting from distance this season with only 58 per cent of his shots coming from inside the paint. That figure sat at 92 per cent at the same point of last season

Rillie said Pinder was attempting to mix outside shooting with his inside game.

“We need a combination of that. With the way he’s been working and developing his shot, to have that but it’s finding the balance,” Rillie said.

“He’s had a good week of practice and I’m sure he’s going to relish the opportunity with the responsibility with Bryce out.”