Gaze: "I don't think you'll see a better game"

A Chris Goulding free-throw in the final moments was the deciding factor in separating Melbourne and Perth in what many are describing as one of the best games of all time.

“I don’t think you’ll see a better game of basketball anywhere in the world,” Andrew Gaze said during the coverage.

The highly anticipated Game 3 matchup began as many had predicted, with the five-time MVP Bryce Cotton in attack mode and setting John Cain Arena alight.

The league’s leading scorer helped push the Wildcats’ lead out to double figures early, before Ian Clark answered back with a masterclass first half of his own.

“I’m not just talking about the NBL, that’s the greatest game of basketball I think I have ever seen in my life,” Pete Hooley said on NBL Now.

“Both teams deserve a ton of credit, because they just delivered something special for the ages.”

There were brilliant individual performances at both ends of the floor, with four players scoring over 30-points for the first time in a final in NBL history.

It was Clark’s career-high 38 points that came in the big moments early in the first quarter and late in the game to help put his team on the cusp of a Championship Series.

“More than anybody it was Chris (Goulding) just in my ear telling me to keep going and going, so that’s what I wanted to do,” Clark said about his motivation throughout the game.

The NBA and NBL Champion wasn’t alone in producing a special performance, as Goulding continued to put his name in the record books with a 30-point night.

The nine made threes put Goulding above Wildcats’ legend Ricky Grace for most made threes in finals, including one that stood out above the rest to his head coach.

“One of the best moments of the game for me was CG diving into the stand to save the ball and coming back down and knowing down a three,” Vickerman noted.

“I mean how inspirational is that for your captain at 36 years of age to be making plays like that in these must win situations.”

As United and the Wildcats continued to trade blows, it was Cotton who got off to a hot start, putting up 22 first half points.

“He’s a hell of a player, he takes what the defence gives him and doesn’t force it,” Clark said about the matchup with Cotton.

“When he gets hot he can be a game-changer.”

While Cotton was up to his usual brilliant best, it was Kristian Doolittle who put together a career-best night, scoring 37 points and pulling down 10 rebounds.

“Returning from his injury he’s probably showing that he’s deserving of a few more accolades and credit around the league,” John Rillie said about his performance.

As the dust settled on a historic night at John Cain Arena, the buzz continued about the special display of basketball that everyone was treated to by two of the most successful teams in the last decade.

“It just captivated everybody and it’s why we love this league,” Hooley said.

“Last year we saw the Cinderella story of Tassie winning and think how can we get any better than this?

“Yet here we are and the league continues to go to a different level each and every season.”

All eyes will now be on Illawarra and South East Melbourne on Wednesday night, with the winner advancing to take on United.