DrinkWise Preview: NBL25 - Playoff Series Game 1 v Perth Wildcats

After all the waiting, the Hungry Jack’s NBL25 Finals are here!

We are set to take on the Perth Wildcats at home inside John Cain Arena on Thursday night in a blockbuster Game 1 battle.

Across the course of the season, we swept our three matchups with the Wildcats, two of which came on the road.

The only time we faced off with Perth at home, Chris Goulding wowed the fans with a 46-point performance, including 25 points in the third quarter alone.

Now with Game 1 right around the corner, let’s take a look at the things to watch heading into Thursday.

WHO’S HOT, WHO’S NOT

(Past five games)
United - L, W, W, W, W

Wildcats - L, W, W, W, W

Both teams come into Game 1 on the back of four-game winning streaks, however these have been orchestrated in very different ways.

After dominating from beyond the arc for much of the season, we are now looking extra dangerous inside the paint, tallying 50 points per game in and around the rim across the winning streak.

This has been fuelled by slick passing (23 assists per game) and the constant threat of players like Goulding, Ian Clark and Tanner Krebs from three-point range.

For the Wildcats, attacking the glass has served them well across their past four and particularly in their last time out against the SEM Phoenix. 

Perth outrebounded the Phoenix by 24 in the 17-point victory, with Kristian Doolittle and Keanu Pinder each registering 11 rebounds. 

STARS COLLIDE

It’s impossible to look at Game 1 without breaking down the matchup between two-time defensive Player of the Year, Shea Ili, and five-time MVP Bryce Cotton.

Ili and United have limited the Cotton to just 9.5 points per game this season, close to three-times less than the American is averaging against the other eight teams in the league (30.26 points). 

Ili on the other hand has had some of his best games against Perth, averaging nine points, over six assists, six rebounds and two steals per game.

GAME INFO

Who: Melbourne United vs Perth Wildcats

Tip-off: 7:30pm AEDT, Thursday 27 February, 2025

Where: John Cain Arena, Melbourne

Watch: ESPN

Tickets: Available via Ticketek