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The NBL Semi Finals continue this Saturday, March 1st, as the Perth Wildcats fight to keep their championship hopes alive in Game 2 against Melbourne United at RAC Arena.
Perth is coming off a 105-93 loss in Game 1, where they struggled to contain veteran sharpshooter Chris Goulding, who erupted for a scorching 41 points. Despite the loss, the Wildcats showed flashes of brilliance, but Melbourne’s experience and firepower proved too much to handle.
Now back on their home floor, the Wildcats will be desperate to respond in front of a raucous RAC Arena crowd. Bryce Cotton, Keanu Pinder, and the rest of the squad will need to step up if they want to force a decisive Game 3.
Melbourne, however, has had Perth’s number at RAC Arena in recent years and will be eager to close out the series and book their spot in the Grand Final. Can the Wildcats turn the tide, or will United complete the sweep? Expect a high-intensity battle with everything on the line.
Here is a Perth Wildcats vs Melbourne United Prediction for Game 2 of the 2025 NBL Semi Finals.
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Perth Wildcats vs Melbourne United
Venue – RAC Arena
Tip Off – 8pm EST
Season Record
| Team | W-L | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perth | 18-11 | 10-5 | 8-6 |
| Melbourne | 19-10 | 9-6 | 10-4 |
Season Scoring
| Team | PPG | Opp PPG | Game Total Ave |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perth | 100.1 | 96.9 | 187 |
| Melbourne | 95.6 | 91.4 | 197 |
Playoff Record
| Team | W-L | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perth | 1-1 | 1-0 | 0-1 |
| Melbourne | 1-0 | 1-0 | 0-0 |
Playoff Scoring
| Team | PPG | Opp PPG | Game Total Ave |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perth | 107.5 | 105 | 212.6 |
| Melbourne | 105 | 93 | 198 |
Quick Game Facts
- Bounce-back kings! Perth has responded to each of its last six away losses with a win—expect a fired-up Wildcats squad.
- Melbourne United has dominated at RAC Arena, winning 11 of its last 12 games against the Wildcats away from home
- Scoring machine! Bryce Cotton leads all qualified players in points per game this season, averaging a blistering 28.3—including finals.
- Historic sharpshooter! Chris Goulding is only the second player in NBL history to hit 10+ threes in multiple games in a single season—the first since Ian Davies in 1985!
Prediction
The Wildcats return to their home floor, and despite the Game 1 loss, they showed plenty of positive signs. The difference? A red-hot Chris Goulding, who torched them with ten three-pointers to carry Melbourne United to victory.
With Perth’s stars in strong form, they’ll pose plenty of problems for United, especially in a high-scoring affair. Under coach John Rillie, the Wildcats have been dominant when cracking the 100-point mark, and they’ll be looking to turn this into a shootout.
With a packed RAC Arena behind them, the Wildcats will be tough to beat in this one. Expect a fierce response as they fight to keep their season alive and force a deciding game three.