Travers stars as United beat 'Cats

Luke Travers put on quite the all-round show signalling what he'll bring to Melbourne United on his return this season in what was an eventual 97-82 win for his team at the CODE Sports NBL Blitz against the Perth Wildcats.

It was a first hit out at the Blitz in Bendigo for United while the Wildcats were backing up having already lost a tight one to the Cairns Taipans on Wednesday night.

Melbourne were without star new pairing Joe Ingles and Cole Anthony while Perth was without games record holding captain Jesse Wagstaff along with Dylan Windler and having still yet to sign their third expected to be point guard import.

It was a Perth local who is returning to Melbourne this season having had his taste in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers who was the star of the evening though.

Travers finished with 23 points, nine rebounds and three assists on 7/11 shooting from the field along with 8/8 at the free-throw line while playing 27 minutes.

It was a flying start from Melbourne who scored the first eight points of the game before Elijah Pepper got Perth on the board, but United were still leading 22-16 by quarter-time with Shea Ili already having nine points on perfect 4/4 shooting.

The Wildcats did get right back into the contest in the second frame with 28 points to 23 with Jo Lual-Acuil up to 10 points by half-time as was Pepper while Kristian Doolittle had nine points, five rebounds and three assists.

United were still clinging to the 45-44 advantage, though, by half-time and while they only were going 2/13 from the outside, the Wildcats had yet to make one from behind the arc going 0/11.

Things did stay tight in the third quarter with Melbourne clinging to the 72-67 by three quarter-time but they were able to take control from there.

United finished off with 25 points to 15 in the fourth quarter on the back of shooting 8/18 from the field and 8/9 at the foul line with the Wildcats finishing going just 3/21 from the floor with another 0/8 from the outside.

Melbourne ended up shooting 49 per cent from the field to the 35 from Perth and while they only went 6/32 from the outside, the Wildcats struggled going 2/28.

As well as what Luke Travers ended up doing for Melbourne, Shea Ili produced 18 points and three assists with 8/10 shooting while Josh Oduro contributed 12 points, 10 rebounds, four blocks and three steals.

Chris Goulding only went 3/13 from beyond the arc but had 12 points and two assists with Sam Waardenburg contributing nine points, five rebounds, two assists and two blocks, and Tom Wilson seven points and three assists.

Despite the tough shooting night from the Wildcats, Jo Lual-Acuil Jr produced 16 points, nine rebounds and three steals with Kristian Doolittle adding 15 points, eight boards, four assists and two steals.

Angus Brandt also had 13 points and four rebounds, Elijah Pepper 13 points, four boards and three steals, and Anthony Dell'Orso 13 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals.

MELBOURNE UNITED 97 – PERTH WILDCATS 82

Melbourne United
Luke Travers – 23 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists
Shea Ili – 18 points, 3 assists
Josh Oduro – 12 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 blocks
Chris Goulding – 12 points, 2 assists
Sam Waardenburg – 9 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks

Perth Wildcats
Jo Lual-Acuil Jr – 16 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals
Kristian Doolittle – 15 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals
Angus Brandt – 13 points, 4 rebounds
Elijah Pepper – 13 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals
Anthony Dell'Orso – 13 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals