Windler fires Wildcats into decider

Dylan Windler was virtually invisible in the opening game but inspired the Perth Wildcats to a remarkable come from behind 96-89 NBL Playoff victory to force a decider with Melbourne United.

United arrived at RAC Arena winning the opening game on Thursday night and coming to a building they had won 10 of the last 11 times in against the Wildcats.

Melbourne dominated the first 29 minutes and were leading by 16 late in the third quarter when Matthew Dellavedova (13 points, 12 assists, eight rebounds) landed a three ball.

From there, the Wildcats took control and it wasn't five-time MVP Bryce Cotton (18 points, seven rebounds, five assists) doing the damage who was again blanketed by Shea Ili.

Windler had just four points on five shots in Game 1 and then just seven points with six shots to half-time of Game 2, but was the difference.

He ended with 27 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and four blocks on shooting 6/7 from deep as the Wildcats outscored United 38-15 in the last 11 minutes to force a decider in Melbourne on Tuesday night.

United rocketed out to a 16-4 opening in the first four minutes with Chris Goulding (15 points, 3/14 from deep) continuing where he left off with the nine second half three-pointers on Thursday for 41 points.

He knocked down another three in the first four minutes and United's lead was soon 30-10 before they went into quarter-time up 36-21.

Perth only got the deficit back to 11 after three but did go into the final period with momentum with a 10-3 run.

They kept it going into the final quarter with Kristian Doolittle (17 points, 11 rebounds, six assists) landing a three ball to make it just a three-point ball game.

Windler made another triple and three-point play as Perth outscored Melbourne 38-15 in the last 11 minutes.

Perth ended up winning the rebound count by nine and captain Jesse Wagstaff was also pivotal with 10 points while Ben Henshall was tremendous defensively on Goulding even while scoring just one point.

Tai Webster provided a punch with 13 points too.

It was an understandably happy Wildcats coach John Rillie afterwards.

"We showed great perseverance to stick with it but it's playoff basketball and they made the plays the other night at the end of Game 1, and we made the plays at the end of this one," he said.

"I think that's a good idea of how playoff basketball is when you've got two pretty good teams playing."

Jack White had a horror time going 2/8 at the foul line for Melbourne as part of his 13 points and six rebounds with Ian Clark adding 13 points, and Marcus Lee 10 with six rebounds.

Melbourne coach Dean Vickerman lost a Playoff game for the first time after holding a 20-point lead and pointed to some areas that led to that.

"It still comes back to the rebounding and that was an area that Windler had a massive impact in and Doolittle had a big impact to get them those second shots, and there were wild things going on," he said.

"There were some big momentum shifts and their crowd got behind them, and we've got some things to work out as a coaching staff and playing group about who to best defend that small group."

Coming back to a venue they have enjoyed such good recent success at, Melbourne made the perfect start with a triple to Jack White before Game 1 hero Chris Goulding landed another.

Goulding then scored going to the basket all too easily to kickstart a 10-0 run that was topped off with him making another three ball and United were on top 16-4 inside four minutes.

That was soon 25-8 and 30-10 when Ian Clark came on to score five quick points with Melbourne remaining in control by quarter-time leading 36-21 going into the break with Marcus Lee finishing the alley-oop from Matthew Dellavedova on the buzzer.

Perth did start to shoot themselves back into the contest early in the second quarter with three balls to Keanu Pinder and Dylan Windler but they could never get back within single figures before half-time.

Melbourne remained in control going into the half leading 55-41 and then the scoring dried up with just six points between both teams in the first five minutes of the third quarter.

Perth did finish the quarter, though, on a 10-3 run with Bryce Cotton scoring on the three quarter-time buzzer to bring the home team back within 11.

Tai Webster then scored six quick points to start the final period and Kristian Doolittle and Windler both hit triples as the 'Cats were back closer than they had been since the opening minutes.

Cotton got some breathing space with Ili off the floor to tie scores up with 4:45 to go before White missed a pair of free throws, and then directly after that Windler made another three ball.

Cotton extended that lead when White missed another pair of foul shots and then Windler continued his herculean second half with another and-one with Perth out to a six-point lead which they converted into the seven-point win.

The series now goes to a Game 3 back on Tuesday night at John Cain Arena with the winner to advance to the Championship Series.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL PLAYOFFS 2025 – GAME 2

PERTH WILDCATS 96 (Windler 27, Cotton 18, Doolittle 17)

MELBOURNE UNITED 89 (Goulding 15, Clark 13, White 13, Dellavedova 13)

Best-of-3 series is tied at 1-1

BOX SCORE