Basketball: Perth takes control of Grand Final series

Matt Knight in action during the NBL Semi Final. Photo / Getty Images

Perth Wildcats veteran Matt Knight will undergo standard concussion tests to determine if he can play in Sunday's game three of the grand final series against the Illawarra Hawks.

The defending champions took a stranglehold on the best-of-five series with Wednesday night's 89-77 game two victory in Wollongong and will be confident of completing a clean sweep when they host Sunday's clash.

Knight was assisted to the locker room after copping a stray elbow from teammate Casey Prather in the first minute of the second half and played no further part in the match.

Perth coach Trevor Gleeson said Knight, a key member of title-winning teams with the Wildcats in 2010, 2014 and 2016, was no certainty to play on Sunday.

"We don't know with Matty. Obviously we'll get some medical advice and hopefully he's okay," Gleeson said.

"He's alright. He knows we won. He's standing on two legs and he's smiling, but of course it's a concern.

"We'll make sure he does the test 48 hours after it. We'll do everything in our power with our medical staff and make sure he's okay. I didn't see the incident or where he got the hit, but Matt's welfare is number one."

The Wildcats trailed by 11 in the first quarter and 45-40 at halftime before gradually taking control in the third period.

"Illawarra exerted a lot of pressure and got after us at the start of the game and it was just about keeping it close," Gleeson said.

"If we were an immature team it's easy to get thrown off your game, but the adversity we've gone through this year helped us not to get rattled."

The Hawks won in Perth for the first time in 12 years during the regular season and sharp-shooting American guard Rotnei Clarke said his team would keep fighting.

"We're not going to give up," Clarke said.

"Winning in Perth is tough but we're capable of doing that and we proved that during the season."

The Hawks hope to force the series to a fourth game back in Wollongong next Friday.