1-0: Vintage CG43 splashes 10 threes in historic playoff performance

• Chris Goulding hit 10 threes, tied for the most in an NBL playoffs game, as he scored 41 points
• Bryce Cotton had 22 points, his most against Melbourne this season
• The Perth Wildcats are yet to beat United this season

A second-half three-point barrage from Chris Goulding, equalling the most threes in an NBL playoffs game, has led Melbourne United to a 105-93 victory (Game Centre) over the Perth Wildcats in game one of the NBL semi-finals at John Cain Arena.

Goulding hit 10-from-17 from beyond the arc on his way to 41 points in just 24:25 as Melbourne put together a dominant second half to be just one win away from returning to the NBL Grand Final Series.

Who else would it be other than Goulding starting the game with a three from the top of the key as Melbourne looked the more settled of the two teams to tip-off the contest while Perth seemed a bit shellshocked as United ran out to an early lead.

Wildcats coach John Rillie looked to have burned a timeout too early with Melbourne only holding a 5-2 lead, although if he used a coach's challenge Perth would have had a Dylan Windler foul overturned when replays showed United guard Shea Ili had at least one foot inside the charge circle.

The timeout appeared to have come too early for the visitors as United continued to roll, jumping out to a double-digit advantage with the game plan seeming obvious as Matthew Dellavedova and Chris Goulding targeted Ben Henschell with their physicality both on drives to the basket and from the post.

But the Wildcats fought their way back to stay in the game with Kristian Doolittle keeping his team afloat, continuing his impressive run of recent form on the offensive end, finding his way to the basket and to his trademark mid-range jump shots off the dribble. Melbourne dominated the first quarter but only finished the opening 10 minutes with a 26-20 lead.

The second quarter belonged to Perth with the big frontcourt of the Wildcats cleaning up on the offensive glass, just as they did in their Seeding Qualifier game against South East Melbourne Phoenix. The offensive rebounds not only led to second chance opportunities for Perth but also forced United to foul.

Bryce Cotton capitalised on Ili, who kept the five-time MVP to an average of 9.5 points per game in their two match-ups this season, after the United defensive stopper spent several minutes on the bench with a leg injury. Cotton hit a three in transition, made a layup after countering Melbourne's pressure with a back cut before finding Pinder rolling to the basket and Doolittle popping off a ball screen to force a timeout from United coach Dean Vickerman.

Wildcats veteran Jesse Wagstaff then capped-off a dominant second period for Perth with a three-point play off an offensive rebound as the visitors went into the main break with a 50-49 lead.

The one man from United you wouldn't want to give any space to found plenty of it in the third as Goulding buried three triples, including a fadeaway in the corner from a baseline out of bounds play, to have Melbourne back in the lead. While Perth faced a major problem of their own, down a man after Tai Webster left the game with a shoulder injury as United went into the fourth quarter with a 10-point lead.

But the Wildcats answered right back, scoring seven points straight to have the visitors within two points but back-to-back plays from Melbourne big man Marcus Lee, a charge and a layup rolling to the basket, held off the visitors. Perth looked like they were primed to overtake United with Goulding on the bench but then the superstar returned and didn't he put on a spectacle to finish the game.

Goulding connected on five threes within four minutes of game time, including a contested fadeaway on Cotton, to not only put the game to bed for United but also put on one of the best shooting performances you will see in an NBL playoffs game.

The Olympic bronze medallist's vintage performance helped United record a 105-93 win and have Melbourne within one game of returning to the grand finals series. Clark was superb off the bench for United with 22 points, Jack White had 13 points and 10 rebounds while Lee had 10 points and seven rebounds.

Keanu Pinder was a standout for the Wildcats with 24 points and 11 rebounds, Doolittle had 22 points and nine rebounds and Cotton had his highest scoring performance against Melbourne this season with 22.

Game 2 is at Perth's RAC Arena on Saturday at 8pm AEST (Game Centre).