United hold off walking wounded Wildcats

The Perth Wildcats refused to lie down despite their growing casualty ward but Melbourne United clung to a three-point win in a tight and tense Grand Final Game 1 on Friday night at RAC Arena.

The Wildcats attempt at starting the Grand Final series on a winning note at home took a blow on Friday morning when starting three man Luke Travers was ruled out with calf soreness. 

His replacement as starter Clint Steindl was down and out with a groin injury before half-time too with triple MVP Bryce Cotton already ruled out. 

But still, Perth had the better of the first half before Melbourne turned a four-point half-time deficit into a seven-point three quarter-time lead with Chris Goulding getting that look in his eye while hitting yet another three on the buzzer.

United's depth and health was proving the difference when they went up 10 during the fourth quarter but the Wildcats just wouldn’t be denied no matter who was available.

Todd Blanchfield continued to score on his way to 27 points on the night and Perth got back to within two, and then had a shot at the tying basket on the buzzer from captain Jesse Wagstaff. It didn’t fall and Melbourne held on to win 73-70 to take Game 1 in front of 9951 fans.

The numbers all pointed in Melbourne's favour post-match except Perth getting to the foul line 22 times to six. But United did have 13 offensive rebounds to seven and forced the 'Cats into 17 turnovers to end up taking 17 more shots which helped them win despite shooting 40 per cent and 9/33 from three.

Chris Goulding was Grand Final MVP when Melbourne won the 2018 championship and he's on track again after 23 points including 5/14 from three-point land. 

Jock Landale also had 17 points and seven rebounds, Jo Lual-Acuil 10 points and seven boards, and Mitch McCarron six points, 11 rebounds and seven assists.

United coach Dean Vickerman was rightfully happy to go up 1-0 in the Grand Final Series while knowing they can click better offensively moving forward.

"The immediate thoughts are happiness and joy to win a Grand Final game in Perth, but the process to get it done I thought in the first half we just weren’t quite at Grand Final level intensity and pace," Vickerman said.

"In the third quarter we made an adjustment and came out loosening up our offence a lot more, we had a good balance between the three ball, and our post game. 

"We still got pretty good looks in the fourth even though we only scored 13, and I liked the number of threes we took and our offensive rebounding that created scores. Our points off turnovers was good too but finding ways to get to the foul line is something that we will address."

Blanchfield was the star for Perth in his first Grand Final appearance with 27 points and seven rebounds including going 5/9 from deep and 8/12 at the foul line.

He just didn’t receive enough help with John Mooney only managing eight points, six rebounds, five steals and four assists. Kevin White stood up for 10 points, Mitch Norton six, Steindl six early and Wani Swaka Lo Buluk six.

Wildcats coach Trevor Gleeson was proud of his team's fight but losing two more players to injury is making it tough.

"We're obviously disappointed but I thought we played with a lot of heart, passion and everything that the Wildcats are without a question. It came down to that we couldn’t get the ball, it seemed like every loose ball they would get and in the playoffs, that's big," Gleeson said.

"It was a tough physical game and I can't fault the guys' effort, there was a lot of heart in it but it just comes down to the possession game and we had 17 turnovers, we were loose with the ball, gave up offensive fouls and we gave them extra possessions.

"It's unfortunate that I saw Clint grab his groin in the second and I was just hoping that it was OK but we did some tests at half-time and he couldn’t go on again. To lose Clint during the game and LT before the game is a pretty big hit, but I thought Wani was exceptional playing with the next man up mentality."

Signs were ominous early with Chris Goulding opening the game with a three-pointer for Melbourne and then Mason Peatling scoring on a putback. Perth soon warmed to the task, though, with a triple to Mitch Norton, three free-throws to Clint Steindl and a putback slam from Will Magnay.

Kevin White also hit a couple of triples for Perth and they led 19-18 by quarter-time despite Melbourne finishing the quarter on a 9-3 streak.

Blanchfield and Mooney then combined to keep Perth on top throughout the second quarter with the lead out to as much as seven, but a triple on the half-time buzzer from Goulding helped Melbourne stay within four despite just 31 points in the half on 34 per cent shooting.

Blanchfield's ability to hit threes and also get to the foul line was keeping the Wildcats in touch for much of the third quarter, but Melbourne were gradually getting on top.

Jock Landale was working his way on top and when he ripped the ball off White to thrown down a dunk with Goulding and David Barlow knocking down threes around him, United were pulling away.

Melbourne then won an offensive board and Goulding hit another triple from way downtown as three quarter-time sounded and the lead was 60-53 and the Red Army was seeing red.

There was little the crowd could do to change the course of the game even if Blanchfield was doing all he could to keep Perth close with Steindl joining Luke Travers and Bryce Cotton out injured while Mitch Norton was hobbled too.

Melbourne had led by 10 but all of a sudden with 2:30 on the clock, Perth had found something extra to get back within two. 

That set up quite the dramatic finish and Perth had one last look to force overtime while forcing the turnover at halfcourt, but Jesse Wagstaff's triple didn’t fall and Melbourne held on to win by three and go up one-nil with three of the last four games likely back in Victoria if needed.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL GRAND FINAL SERIES
GAME 1

PERTH WILDCATS 70 (Blanchfield 27, White 10, Mooney 8)

MELBOURNE UNITED 73 (Goulding 23, Landale 17, Lual-Acuil 10) 

BOX SCORE