DrinkWise game preview: Playoff series Game 3 - Wildcats v United

The Wildcats produced a monumental comeback over United on Saturday night, coming from 14 points down in the final term to prevail by seven and force a series decider.

Captain Jesse Wagstaff, whose impressive finals series continued with 10 first-half points and two triples while shooting at a perfect 100 per cent from the field, said the team was excited for the do-or-die assignment in game three.

“This is one game and everything is on the table for this one game. You win and you go on. You lose and you go home. It’s all or nothing on Tuesday,” Wagstaff said.

“The fact of the matter is it is one game and 40 minutes separates us from a grand final series or going home and season over. That’s the same situation for them and same situation for us.

“It’s exciting. This is why you play basketball. It is an exciting time of year when all the biccies are up for grabs. It’s the pointy end of the season. The game is a bit faster, the crowd is a bit louder and there’s more on the line. It is why you play.”

Wagstaff had been impressed with the Wildcats’ depth and variety of attacking weapons which meant less pressure on five-time NBL MVP Bryce Cotton.

Cotton still managed to have an impact in game two, despite plenty of extra attention from Shea Ili and co, finishing with 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

But fellow import Dylan Windler was the hero with a 27-point, 11-rebound double-double which included six three-pointers.

“We’ve certainly got some phenomenal players around him,” Wagstaff said about Cotton.

“Just like Melbourne, they’ve got Chris Goulding who went for 40-something in the first game but they’ve also got a very, very, very good cast around him as well. With BC getting so much attention, it may provide opportunity like it did on Saturday night for a guy like Dylan or KP or Kristian. We’ve certainly got some very good players around BC as well.”

Coach John Rillie wants to see more of what his team produced in the final quarter of game two, when they were back to their brilliant best with a 33-point term, in the series decider.

“All I can worry about is the mindset of our group and how we approach game three,”

“I addressed it after game one, we’re not going to re-invent the wheel, we’re going to be about who we are because as you saw in the fourth quarter, when we’re at our best, we’re a good team.

“It’s all about the execution of it all.”

Game details

Who: Perth Wildcats vs Melbourne United

When: 4.30pm WST Tuesday 4 March

Where: John Cain Arena

Watch: Live on ESPN (via Kayo or Foxtel)

Opposition watch

Melbourne United have a strong record against the Wildcats this season, winning four of five attempts.

Their loss on Saturday night was their first to Perth in NBL25.

Like the Wildcats, United have a clean bill of health and an array of offensive weapons, headlined by captain Chris Goulding.

At the other end, Shea Ili is a two-time Defensive Player of the Year who will no doubt spend plenty of time on Bryce Cotton once again.

Last time they met

Perth squared the best-of-three series at 1-1 after a stunning come-from-behind victory at RAC Arena on Saturday night.

The Wildcat came from 20 points down and a 14-point final-quarter deficit to prevail 96-89 in front of a vocal 12,961 supporters.

Dylan Windler starred at both ends during the second-half comeback, scoring 20 of his 27 points after half-time to finish with a double-double.

He amassed game-high numbers in points (27), rebounds (11), three-pointers (six) and blocks (four) in a special performance, shooting at a remarkable 85.7 per cent from long-range.

Fellow import Kristian Doolittle also had a double-double with 17 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.

Young gun Ben Henshall was excellent defensively on game-one star Chris Goulding, helping keep him to two second-half points after he was the leading score in the game at half-time with 13.