Second half blitz sees Wildcats advance

Melbourne United put themselves in a strong position to advance by half-time but the Perth Wildcats took charge from there led by Kristian Doolittle and Jo Lual-Acuil Jr to claim the 95-77 Play-In Game victory.

The two teams locked horns to continue their remarkable rivalry at RAC Arena on Saturday night with the Wildcats trying to bounce back from losing the Seeding Qualifier to the South East Melbourne Phoenix on Wednesday.

Melbourne stayed alive by beating the Tasmania JackJumpers on Thursday and came into the game having won 10 of their last 13 games against the Wildcats in a remarkable RAC Arena record.

United then had the first half virtually entirely on their terms to be leading 53-44 heading into the break with nine offensive rebounds to four, and taking an extra 10 shots.

However, Perth had the two most dominant figures on the court with Doolittle and Lual-Acuil Jr combining for 25 first half points.

That pair then proved match winners in the second half with Doolittle adding another 12 points and Lual-Acuil Jr 15 as the 'Cats outscored United 51 points to 24 after half-time.

The eventual 18-point win sees Perth now set up a Playoffs battle with the Sydney Kings starting at Qudos Bank Arena on Wednesday night while the season is over for United after they started 9-0 and winning 13 of their first 15 matches.

Lual-Acuil Jr finished with 28 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks on 11/17 shooting with Doolittle adding 24 points, seven boards, six assists and two steals with 9/11 free-throw shooting.

Dylan Windler had four fouls by the third quarter but still had a significant impact with 18 points, nine rebounds and three assists with two dagger threes.

Milton Doyle top-scored for Melbourne with 13 points despite 4/14 shooting with Tyson Walker adding 12 points and Jesse Edwards 12 with eight rebounds as he shook off the back spasms that kept him out of Thursday night.

It was a nervey start from both teams and it took more than two minutes for either to score but the deadlock was broken by Melbourne captain Chris Goulding. He then scored again after a Wildcats turnover and then Dash Daniels gave United the 6-0 beginning.

The Wildcats eventually scored thanks to Jo Lual-Acuil Jr almost four minutes into the contest but Jesse Edwards then came on and had an immediate impact with two buckets and a block to help Melbourne to the 12-5 lead.

Perth then settled in eventually and went on a run of scoring the next 17 points that included a pair of three balls to Kristian Doolittle along with him completing a three-point play, and Dontae Russo-Nance hitting from deep.

Melbourne again answered, though, with the last seven points of the opening quarter to cut the 'Cats lead to 22-19 with the home team taking seven free throws to zer.

United had quickly brought scores back level early in the second frame including an alley-oop finish from Edwards on the pass from Finn Delany but it was Melbourne getting things more on their terms.

They were able to turn that into a nine-point lead with two minutes to go in the half with another perfect pass from Delany for a dunk from Edwards.

Melbourne was able to push that lead out to a game high 11 and were still on top 53-44 by half-time but the Wildcats turned the momentum coming into the second half and it all started with Doolittle.

He put the Wildcats on his back with 12 of their 23 points in the third quarter with Jo Lual-Acuil Jr adding another eigh. On the back of their two guns, the home team turned into three quarter-time up by four.

It was then all the Wildcats in the fourth quarter with Melbourne out on their feet and a couple of huge triples from Dylan Windler after his frustrating night with foul trouble sent them into the Playoffs against the Kings.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL FINALS – PLAY-IN GAME

PERTH WILDCATS 95 (Lual-Acuil 28, Doolittle 24, Windler 18)

MELBOURNE UNITED 77 (Doyle 13, Edwards 12, Walker 12)

BOX SCORE