DrinkWise Preview: NBL26 - Round 11, Game 1 v Perth Wildcats

We are set to return to the court this Thursday evening for our first game back following the FIBA Window Break when we take on the Perth Wildcats inside RAC Arena.

Being the final team we faced prior to the break, it’s a matchup that is fresh in the minds of our stars.

In that meeting, we ended Perth’s three-game winning streak, coming away with a 98-87 win, which in turn extended our own run of consecutive wins to four.

This will be our first game against the Wildcats in Perth this season. Their home court has been a happy hunting ground over recent years, as we have tallied 10 wins in our past 12 games there.

WHAT’S THE WORD?

Coming off a great game in his first ever in-season game against Perth, Tyson Walker touched on what the focus is ahead of Thursday night.

“Just being able to guard their players one-on-one,” Walker explained.

“They’ve got really talented guys, so just doing that. Making sure we’re rebounding the ball and taking care of the ball.”

On the other side, import forward Kristian Doolittle said he is excited for the opportunity to face us again following the Round 10 defeat.

“It’s quicker to get my revenge,” Doolittle said.

“I hate losing so it wouldn’t matter whoever I was playing, if they would have beaten me I would want to play them right back again.”

WHO’S HOT, WHO'S NOT

Despite a down scoring game from Chris Goulding when the two teams last met in Round 10, the sharpshooter still had an enormously positive influence on the result.

In his 27 minutes, Goulding finished as a game-best +22, using his gravity to create opportunities for his teammates.

Across Perth’s history inside RAC Arena, no opponent has scored more points against the Wildcats than Goulding.

Who: Melbourne United vs Perth Wildcats

Tip-off: 9:30pm AEDT, Thursday 4 December, 2025

Where: RAC Arena, Perth

Watch: 10 ESPN

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