Match Recap: Round 15, Indigenous Round v Perth Wildcats

Melbourne United’s five-game winning streak has come to an end following a loss to the Perth Wildcats at John Cain Arena.

United were forced to play from behind early, following a 7-0 start from the visitors.

MVP candidate Jo Lual-Acuil Jr took it upon himself to get the defending champions back in the game, scoring Melbourne’s first six points to get the ball rolling.

With momentum on their side, United got back into the game thanks in part to a strong bench contribution.

Shea Ili, Mason Peatling, Ariel Hukporti and Brad Newley all came off the bench and quickly hit the scoreboard.

Big A was particularly effective against Perth’s small-ball lineup, tallying 5 points, including a long jumper to beat the quarter-time buzzer and reduce the deficit to a single point.

Looking to pull in front for the first time in the game, Melbourne battled hard, but the Wildcats remained one step ahead for much of the second term.

Matthew Dellavedova did his best to boost United, scoring 13 points in the term and playing some terrific defence on Bryce Cotton.

This buoyed Melbourne, who showcased their perseverance, eventually going on a 7-0 run to take the lead before the major break.

In the midst of that run, Jack White provided one of the plays of the season, meeting Majok Majok at the rim for a huge rejection.

This, combined with a great slam from Big A propelled United to a 48-46 lead heading into half-time.

Coming out of the major break, United experienced some high highs, but low lows.

Jack White added to his collection of highlights, throwing down a huge put-back dunk, before blocking Perth’s Vic Law a number of times to give Melbourne back some momentum.

That was about as good as it got across the term for United, as the Wildcats adjusted their defence, making life difficult for the home side.

Melbourne managed just 16 points in the quarter and found themselves down by five points heading into the final 10 minutes.

 It appeared as though United would continue the fourth-quarter dominance they had displayed across NBL22, quickly going on a 5-0 run, sparked by another monster Jack White block.

Both sides traded buckets across the remainder of the quarter, with Perth holding onto the slimmest of margins.

Down 78-80, United’s usually unshakable composure waivered, as the Wildcats went on an 8-0 run to pull ahead by 10 and ultimately secure the victory.

JLA and Big A were standouts for Melbourne, combining for 30 points.

Despite the loss, United remain on top of the competition ladder heading into their next game, Throwdown XV, delivered by DoorDash on Sunday afternoon.

The game will be broadcast live on 10 Peach and Kayo Freebies from 1pm.