DYLAN Windler played his best game as an NBL player on Saturday night resulting in a huge second half comeback victory for his Perth Wildcats over Melbourne United. Perth treated its home fans to a seven-point win which sees them tie the Semi-Final series and force a game three in Melbourne on Tuesday evening. 

Melbourne came out of the blocks scorching hot, posting 36 opening quarter points to race out to a 15-point lead after one period. Chris Goulding scored 11 points in the first five minutes to send scares through Perth’s camp after his dazzling offensive display in Game 1. 

The second term was much more even, as Jesse Wagstaff rattled off eight quick points to boost the Wildcats scoring. Keanu Pinder began to assert his impact on the game, while Windler’s defensive impact was felt by Melbourne as the home side started to show signs of life. 

Melbourne headed into half-time with a solid 14-point lead, and coming out of it, the second half was very back-and-forth just as the second quarter had been. Facing a 16-point deficit with three minutes remaining in the period, Windler made two important shots from beyond the arc to reduce to margin to 11 heading into the final quarter.

With their backs against the wall, down double-digits and facing elimination, Windler shouldered his side in the final term and the Wildcats immediately began to eat into Melbourne’s advantage. Jack White knocked down a three for the visitors to extend the lead back out to 14, before Tai Webster scored six rapid points to bring the deficit back to just eight points.

Goulding was fouled on a three, which would have demoralised the home crowd, but a successful challenge from John Rillie gave Windler another of his four blocks for the evening, and he would then go on to nail another three and reduce the lead to just five points. 

Perth was quite Bryce Cotton-focussed and trying to get him the ball at all costs actually hindered its performance, Shea Ili taking the ball from him in close quarters and getting fouled at the other end, but the double-teams Cotton was attracting did allow him to kick the ball to open shooters, as he did when he fed Kristian Doolittle above the arc where he splashed a three to make it a three-point game. 

With five minutes to go, Cotton would shake loose to lay the ball in and tie the game, after Perth had trailed for the entire game. Windler then hit his sixth three of the game to give the Wildcats their first lead.

Amids White missing four consecutive free throws which would have put Melbourne back in front, Cotton made another layup to push the lead to five. After some back-and-forth scoring, Doolittle scored under the basket and Melbourne was unable to reclaim the lead in the final minute, with Perth completing the comeback and forcing a third game in the series. 

Windler was the hero for the home team, finishing with 27 points, 23 of which came in the second half, on 6/7 shooting from long distance. He also grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked four shots. Doolittle posted a 17-point, 11 rebound and six assist line, while Cotton added 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Pinder put up eight points, six rebounds and blocked two shots in limited minutes, as Wagstaff got some extended run. He and Tai Webster combined to contribute 23 points off the bench.

No Melbourne player scored more than 15 points as the visiting side struggled to shoot the ball with any real efficiency. Goulding cooled off and shot just 3/14 from downtown, while White, Ian Clark and Matthew Dellavedova all scored 13 points. The latter flirted with a triple-double, pulling down eight rebounds and dishing out 12 assists. Ili was once again stern on defence against the MVP, but double-teaming Cotton left far too many shooters open for Perth, with the team shooting 52 per cent from long range. 

The sides will meet in the deciding game on Tuesday evening at John Cain Arena, in what promises to be a thrilling matchup between two sides who have had plenty of memorable battles. The winner will wait until Wednesday to see who their Grand Final opponent will be, as South East Melbourne and Illawarra duel in Game 3 of their Semi Final Series on Wednesday.