DrinkWise Preview: NBL25 - Round 17, Game 2 v Perth Wildcats

With four games remaining for Melbourne United in the NBL25 regular season, every game, especially those against teams in the top-six, carry extra importance.

This will be the case on Wednesday evening, when we head on the road for a clash with the Perth Wildcats inside RAC Arena.

Having beaten the Wildcats in both of our previous matchups in NBL25, and won nine of our previous 10 games as visitors to RAC Arena, we will take confidence into the showdown.

A win would see us leapfrog Perth on the ladder to close Round 17.

WHO’S HOT, WHO’S NOT

(Past five games)
United - W, L, W, W, L

Wildcats - W, W, W, W, W

Perhaps the hottest team in the competition right now, Perth will be looking to extend their winning streak to six straight games come Wednesday.

Across their past five games, the Wildcats have connected on 63 long-range makes, 20 of which have come from Bryce Cotton.

Having limited Perth to an average of eight three-point makes per game this season, Dean Vickerman will be hoping we can shut down their deep threats, while moving the ball to find open shooters in good positions.

STARS COLLIDE

Few individual battles are better than when Shea Ili and Bryce Cotton match up across from each other on an NBL court.

The two stars have been part of a number of unforgettable games over the years, and are currently in the midst of amazing individual seasons.

Having only faced off once in NBL25, all the way back in Round 3, Ili dominated the duel, holding Cotton scoreless in his minutes guarding the 4-time MVP, while tallying 16 points, nine rebounds and nine assists of his own.

Cotton finished that game with five points, all while Ili was on the bench, and failed to score across the final three quarters.

GAME INFO

Who: Melbourne United vs Perth Wildcats

Tip-off: 9:30pm AEDT, Saturday 22 January, 2025

Where: RAC Arena, Perth

Watch: ESPN