United Retain Spot and Win Again Out West

Melbourne United has some big names but point guard Shea Ili was the driving force as they beat Perth Wildcats 84-75 at RAC Arena on Monday night as the home side dropped an unthinkable third-straight home game.

The two Grand Finalists from a season ago came into this final clash of Round 18 on the back two consecutive losses each. Melbourne had lost to the Illawarra Hawks at home the past two Saturday while Perth had lost at home back in Round 17 to both the Tasmania JackJumpers and Sydney Kings.

That meant United needed the Thursday night win to avoid conceding top spot to the Kings while the 'Cats needed the win to maintain their gap in fourth position even though losses last up for Tasmania and South East Melbourne somewhat eased that pressure.

In the end, Ili was a major factor in the critical win. He had 12 points and five steals but most importantly hassled Bryce Cotton (18 points) for large parts of the game and came up with several loose balls in the final quarter just as the Wildcats were doing all they could to mount a comeback.

Not only does the win steady Melbourne to 16-7 on the season in first place, but remarkably it's their sixth win in-a-row at RAC Arena as they again enjoyed silencing the 10,192 in attendance.

Perth remains in fourth place at 14-9 but this was the first time they have lost three consecutive home matches since 1999.

Ili was far from the only star on the night for United who did well to make up for the absence of Caleb Agada after his heavy fall against Illawarra on Saturday.

Captain Chris Goulding made some massive shots when they mattered most on his way to 18 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals. After being unwell on Saturday, Matthew Dellavedova bounced back too with 17 points and six assists including going 5/8 from downtown.

Jo Lual-Acuil also finished with 14 points and six rebounds, and Jack White 11 points and 10 boards.

United coach Dean Vickerman hopes this win is the start of his side’s run to the finals.

"We talked about it before the game that we saw the run that Sydney have been going on - they were you were down low .500 and they just came together and really turned it up," Vickerman said.

"We feel like this is this is our time right now to really lock in, just play with the absolute desperation and winning effort. We got some great highlights tonight about what it takes to go ahead and win big games and especially games on the road. 

"One of our goals this year was to try and win at everybody's venue. We got that done tonight. So wherever we finish in the playoff race. We've got the ability to walk in every venue with a good memory of getting a win."

While Cotton still top-scored for Perth with 18 points and four assists, Todd Blanchfield had 15 points and seven rebounds, Vic Law 13 points and five boards, and Luke Travers 11 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Wildcats coach Scott Morrison was disappointed in his side’s 15 turnovers but couldn’t fault their effort with Mitch Norton and Michael Frazier both on the sidelines.

"If the other night against Sydney was our rock bottom, I think we were better tonight. I was pleased with the effort of the guys. I thought we left it all out there," Morrison said.

"We're short-handed and gave it all we had which is was kind of the first step in getting back on the right track. Unfortunately, we made a lot of mistakes that I think we could have prevented but I'll take the effort and hopefully we can fix some of those things and get a couple more wins here in the in this last stretch. 

"They really ramped up their defence in the second half and bogged us down. We got caught staring and searching for Bryce a little too often instead of just attacking. But they forced us into that. And on the offensive end, they hit the open threes and we missed them."

Goulding nailed two threes early in an ominous sign for the home team but the Wildcats soon had the jungle jumping as Matt Hodgson dunked and drew the foul to take his club into the lead.

White scored six late points for United but Travers hit a running three from half-court on the quarter-time buzzer as United led 25-23.

The Wildcats went on a Blanchfield-inspired run into half-time to lead 44-40.

Melbourne needed more contributors and Dellavedova rose to the challenge in the third term knocking down some big three with his fifth long ball tying scores at 62-62 going into three quarter-time.

United broke out to a 74-64 lead with six minutes to play after a Goulding hit another three, the Wildcats would close to within five but Ili made some crucial defensive plays and United managed the final minutes to seal the win.

Both teams now back up again on Thursday night with the Wildcats at home to the New Zealand Breakers after United takes on the South East Melbourne Phoenix in a Throwdown.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 18

PERTH WILDCATS 75 (Cotton 18, Blanchfield 15, Law 13) 

MELBOURNE UNITED 84 (Goulding 18, Dellavedova 17, Lual-Acuil 14)

BOX SCORE