Goulding inspires United comeback win

Melbourne United were staring down the barrel of a second straight disappointing home loss, before Chris Goulding produced a 25-point third quarter to lift his team to the eventual 106-97 win over the Perth Wildcats at John Cain Arena.

After losing by 34 points at home to the New Zealand Breakers on Monday, United hit back with a win in Brisbane on Thursday but were staring down the barrel of a similar defeat with the Wildcats leading 65-51 at the half.

Melbourne had also lost Jack White with a calf injury, but Goulding was unstoppable with six three-pointers and 25 points in the third quarter on his way to 46 for the game on 9/21 long-range shooting as United returned to top spot at 9-4.

"It feels good and we felt almost defeated at half-time because we just weren't ourselves," he said.

"Our offence was ok but they shot the ball incredibly well and put us in actions where we weren't guarding well enough.

"We made some adjustments, we made some shots, but the defensive side of it was really pleasing."

It was a stunning first half display from the Wildcats including putting up 36 points to 20 in the second quarter to go into half-time leading 65-51 on the back of shooting 69 per cent.

Kristian Doolittle and Next Star Izan Almansa, who made the start, both had 17 points going into the break and if that wasn’t remarkable enough, what happened in the third quarter had to be seen to be believed.

United captain Goulding put up 25 points on his own while hitting six three-pointers as he almost single-handedly brought his team back from that 14-point deficit at the half to be leading by six at three quarter-time.

Goulding then hit the first two points of the fourth quarter and Melbourne went on with the job holding the Wildcats to 32 points in the entire second half after they had 65 in the first 20 minutes.

Marcus Lee also had 13 points and four rebounds for Melbourne with White having 12 points and four boards before a calf injury. Rob Loe added another 11 points, and Shea Ili five points, seven assists, five rebounds and five steals.

Doolittle top-scored for the now 5-6 Wildcats with 21 points, five assists and four rebounds with Almansa producing 19 points and seven boards, Ben Henshall 15 points on 3/3 three-point shooting, and Keanu Pinder 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Wildcats coach John Rillie - who once made 10 threes of his own in Townsville's stunning upset quarter-final win in Perth in 2009 - had no answer to Goulding.

"You tip your hat to his performance," he said.

"For us, it's emotional and disappointing right now with how that went.

"When our heads are in a better space, we'll deal with that."

It was a fast start from both teams before Perth began to pull away when Next Star Izan Almansa took advantage of making the start for five quick points on his way to 12 in the in the opening quarter.

However, Melbourne got going heading into quarter-time including a late triple from Tanner Krebs to give them the 31-29 advantage after one.

Doolittle and Almansa combined for Perth's first seven points of the second term to restore them to the lead before three-pointers to Tai Webster and Todd Withers set the tone for the rest of the half.

Dylan Windler and Keanu Pinder joined in the three-point fun to stretch the lead for the 'Cats to 11 before that turned into a 12-0 run and the margin was 17.

It was still the Wildcats on top 65-51 going into half-time but what eventuated in the third quarter was remarkable with Chris Goulding putting United on his back like only he can.

The captain hit six three-pointers in the quarter, scored 25 points and his team put up 32 to 12 to stun the Wildcats and turn into the fourth quarter with the six-point advantage and all the momentum.

Then even after the 'Cats closed back within two points with just over two minutes to play with a Ben Henshall three-pointer, Goulding scored going to the basket to get to 41 points and keep Melbourne up four.

Goulding then iced the win for United with his ninth three of the night to secure the nine-point victory and to put them back on top of the NBL.

Melbourne now doesn’t play again until hosting the Adelaide 36ers next Sunday while the Wildcats are back home on Friday night to face the South East Melbourne Phoenix.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2024/25

MELBOURNE UNITED 106 (Goulding 46, Lee 13, White 12)

PERTH WILDCATS 97 (Doolittle 21, Almansa 19, Pinder 14)

BOX SCORE