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Eric Griffin got the scoreboard moving but he needs to use his athletic frame to better use on the boards if the Sixers are to start winning again.

Adelaide coach Joey Wright criticised import Eric Griffin's fourth-quarter brain fade and lack of urgency on the boards following the 36ers' 99-95 loss to the Perth Wildcats.

Griffin rattled off eight points in the opening four minutes of action and finished with 18 points at 67 per cent but Wright was more concerned with other areas of the agile import forward's game, notably his total of three rebounds for the match.

Griffin had three boards against Melbourne and two against Sydney - also losses.

"He (Griffin) did score a few buckets but he had a few breakdowns that he's got to do better at," Wright said.

"He's got to rebound better - he had three rebounds.

"The most athletic guy on the court and one of the quickest guys and he's averaging 3-4 rebounds - that's just not good enough.

"Obi (Kyei) played limited minutes (13) and out-rebounded him (five)."

Griffin's unsportsmanlike foul midway through the final term, a mid-court open-handed jab to the midriff of Perth star Bryce Cotton, also stalled Adelaide's comeback charge.

"That unsportsmanlike was totally unnecessary at that particular time in the game," Wright said.

"Totally unnecessary. It didn't change the momentum but it's a totally different ballgame - shot-clock (winding down) and they're up by one (if Griffin hadn't hit Cotton) versus them being up three."

Wright praised his side's hustle and ability to contain Cotton who finished with 18 points at 31 per cent after being held scoreless almost till half-time but acknowledged the Wildcats' execution was superior in the clutch.

"I thought we did a great job of controlling Cotton for periods," Wright said.

"All the second-chance and hustle stuff that we track on our bench, we accomplished those.

"I would love for these guys to make a few better decisions coming down the stretch."They (Perth) made some plays that we didn't make."