Perth Wildcats produce inspirational semifinal comeback against Melbourne United to level series

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Perth Wildcats produce inspirational semifinal comeback against Melbourne United to level series

Perth Wildcats have produced a comeback that will live on in the memory of fans and could ignite a championship run after storming back from 20 points down to beat Melbourne United and level the semifinal series.

Import Dylan Windler inspired his team with 27 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks in an epic performance that dragged his club to an unfathomable 96-89 victory.

Kristian Doolittle had a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds to send the series to game three in Melbourne on Tuesday. And Bryce Cotton broke Melbourne’s hearts with 18 points including the late free throws to put the game to bed.

Camera IconDylan Windler. Credit: Paul Kane/Getty Images

The Wildcats started ugly. They had three airballs in the opening minutes and were staring down the barrel of a 16-4 deficit after four minutes.

Melbourne extended the lead to 20 points midway through the term and things were looking grim. But Perth got it back to 15 points by quarter-time.

Wildcats captain Jesse Wagstaff turned the game with a second-quarter blitz that helped to reduce the deficit to 12 points. But the work came at a price as Keanu Pinder picked up his third foul just before the buzzer.

Could they hit back in the third quarter? Little by little the answer was yes. Windler was outstanding and when Cotton made a tough shot as the clock ticked down, the Wildcats had a pulse.

They had to maintain the rage though. **** Webster was in doubt before the game but played with a taped shoulder and made crucial shots.

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Windler hit another three and when Doolittle nailed one too, they were just three points down with six and a half minutes to play.

United had done a great job on Cotton but everyone knew he’d do something when it mattered and it was fitting that he levelled the scores with 4:48 remaining.

The crowd of 12,961 were at fever pitch and applied immense pressure on Jack White as he missed four free throws in a row.

They were deafening when Windler put the home team in front. They went to another level when he made his next shot. Six points up.

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Melbourne got it back to two points but then Kristian Doolittle left the game with an injured shoulder. He wasn’t off for long and returned to make a shot, then nailed his free throw to give Perth a five-point lead with 1:12 on the clock.

When ill fouled out of the game inside the final minute, the Wildcats were home. The championship dream is alive.

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