Mitsubishi Match Recap: Hungry Jack’s NBL26 - Round 18, Game 2 v Perth Wildcats

Melbourne United have outlasted the Perth Wildcats on the road to make it two wins from two games in Round 18.

Jesse Edwards opened up United’s account in Perth, finishing a great pass from Tyson Walker at the rim before the guard sliced inside for two points of his own a possession later.

It was a physical term, which unfortunately left the visitors shorthanded after Walker was hit with an elbow to the jaw which removed him from the contest.

Scores were few and far between for Melbourne across the second half of the period, with free throws their only points until a Tanner Krebs floater in the final minute set the score at 12-24 after 10 minutes.

After lacking energy in the first, United turned up the heat in the second quarter.

Looking for some consistency, Melbourne attacked inside, with Kyle Bowen and Edwards finding success in the paint before Chris Goulding connected from the mid-range in his 500th game.

A Fabijan Krslovic followed this, hitting a three to put an exclamation mark on a 15-3 run which tied the game.

The Wildcats were able to answer, threatening to push their lead back out close the period, however Finn Delany was able to produce a ferocious throwdown, bringing the United bench to their feet.

Despite this, Perth remained in front by five points with the close running down in the period, but Milton Doyle, who had provided a great punch off the bench, changed that, connecting on a stepback triple to beat the buzzer and cut the margin to 38-40 at the major break.

While there would have been hopes that United could have continued this momentum coming out of half time, their offence ground to a halt, going close to eight minutes without a made field goal.

Malith Machar was the one who ultimately broke the seal on the rim, cutting to the hoop for a floater before Edwards finished the quarter with force.

The big-man powered his way inside for an and-one bucket, which he then followed up with a buzzer-beating layup to cut the Wildcats lead back to 50-52.

In a tense final period, every basket felt like it was hugely important.

United were able to grasp the lead for the first time since the first period after a Doyle layup and Machar three-ball.

Perth hit back, leaning on their stars to go up by as many as five points with two and a half minutes to play.

With the game on the line, it was Doyle who would ultimately come up with a number of winning efforts.

First, the import connected on a three-pointer from the wing off an offensive rebound to cut the lead to two points.

Then, trailing with 30 seconds remaining, it was another side-step triple with a hand in the face that put Melbourne up by a point.

It took a hard-fought defensive possession the following trip down the court to stop the Wildcats and end Round 18 with a 74-73 victory.

United will next face the New Zealand Breakers on Friday 31 January from 5:30pm on the road. 

The game will be streamed live on ESPN.

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