The Adelaide 36ers maintained their push for a top three finish with an emphatic 16-point win over Perth Wildcats, led by a rampaging Willie Farley.

He had 33 points by three quarter time and finished with 37 for the night as Adelaide won 116-100 without star playmaker Brett Maher who missed the game because of a hamstring strain.

It was Adelaide's third win over the Wildcats in four games this season.

Perth put in one of its poorest efforts of the season, made all the worse considering the match was telecast nationally via Foxtel.

To say Farley had the "hot hand" in the second quarter would be the understatement of the season.

Farley poured in 14 points including four from long range as the visitors set up a 17-point lead at halftime.

By the half, the livewire Adelaide guard had 21 points on eight of 14 shooting from the field and five of seven from the perimeter.

He received excellent support from Dusty Rychart with 14 points and Brad Hill with 10.

The damage could have been worse for the home side if not for the first-half efforts of Tony Ronaldson (16 points), David Bailey (13 points) and Shawn Redhage (13 points, six rebounds).

The Wildcats didn't take enough care of the ball in the opening two periods, turning it over 12 times.

Perth came out smoking a in the third quarter with Tony Ronaldson hitting an early triple, but Farley couldn't stay out of the action. Within four minutes he stole the ball in the back court and went all the way to the hoop with a classy lay-up.

With two minutes to go in the period he hit a hail-mary from way beyond the arc one second before the shot clock expired. Even he had to laugh as he made his way back into position.

He wasn't finished yet. With eight seconds to go in the quarter he took the ball all the way to the three-point line to sink a triple on the three quarter time buzzer, demoralising the home crowd and extending Adelaide's lead to 23.

Bailey and Peter Crawford hit consecutive three-pointers in the fourth to get the home team within 19, but the damage was done.

Bailey could hold his head up high for Perth with 31 points.

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