Walker, Edwards one-two punch out Wildcats

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American import Tyson Walker's dagger three with 30 seconds left in the ball game iced Melbourne United's best start in team history, beating the Perth Wildcats 98-87 win Round 10 of NBL26 on Sunday, November 23, 2025 in Melbourne.

United, 13-2 heading into the FIBA break, were up 91-87 when Walker, 25, sized up Wildcats wing Ben Henshall out of a slip screen, high pick and roll with centre Jesse Edwards and buried it from deep.

Edwards, 25, went head to head with three-time NBA champion JaVale McGee and Wildcats in-form centre Jo Lual-Acuil Jr in the space of 24 hours and anchored both wins for the ladder leaders. Edwards held JLA to just three boards.

"They’re both different players, but they’re both tough covers, like you said," Edwards said.

"So for us — and for me personally — it was just the same mindset. Try to come with the same physicality, follow those principles, and not have too much drop-off from two nights ago to tonight.

"It’s obviously good. But you also try to come into the season with that mindset — that you’re not gonna come in thinking there’s a lot of guys better than you every game. It definitely helps, but I don’t try to look at that too much.

"I just try to really focus on what is the current goal on defence — what are we trying to do as a team — and then follow up on that."

Edwards finished with 11 points and 16 rebounds, including a tough o-board down the stretch that led to a key bucket.

United head coach Dean Vickerman said: it was a big one for us. We wanted to get the win at home, go to Illawarra and play — it is such a tough contest there.

"And I just thought the winning attitude up there — if we miss shots, it was come up with an O-board, get extra possessions — and I thought that carried over tonight.

"The possession game was huge: low turnovers for us, high offensive rebounds.

"If we could have made some threes in a couple of periods there, I thought we could have punched it out.

"But then fourth quarter — you know, I don’t think we concede a three. A couple of mid-range contested, and they lived at the foul line.

"So yeah, I was really pleased with the way that we defended in the fourth."

Key Details

• Result: Melbourne United 98 def. Perth Wildcats 87
• When: Saturday, 23rd November 2025
• Where: John Cain Arena, Melbourne
• Attendance: 9,212
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Milton Doyle (Melbourne United) starred with 24 points, three rebounds, four assists and two steals in 33 minutes.
• Kristian Doolittle (Perth Wildcats) scored 20 points, and had 11 rebounds, six assists in 34 minutes.

What Happened

Melbourne United controlled the tempo from the opening tip, establishing an early advantage that they would never relinquish. The home side led 24-22 after the first quarter before extending their margin to 51-47 at half-time. United's superior ball movement and efficient shooting allowed them to pull away in the third quarter, outscoring Perth 23-26 to take a 74-73 lead into the final period. The decisive quarter saw Melbourne explode for 24 points while holding Perth to just 14, sealing the 11-point victory.

Milton Doyle was the catalyst for United's offensive success, shooting an efficient 8-from-23 from the field while connecting on four triples from 11 attempts. His ability to create shots and find teammates proved crucial in breaking down Perth's defence. Tyson Walker complemented Doyle perfectly, delivering 23 points on outstanding 8-from-11 shooting, including six successful free throws. Walker's court vision was evident with seven assists, orchestrating United's ball movement throughout the contest.

For Perth, Kristian Doolittle put together an impressive all-around performance despite the loss. His double-double of 20 points and 11 boards showcased his versatility, while six assists demonstrated his playmaking ability. Dylan Windler contributed 17 points on solid 7-from-11 shooting, providing a reliable scoring option alongside Doolittle. Jo Lual-Acuil Jr added 19 points, but Perth's supporting cast struggled to match Melbourne's depth.

United's superior shooting proved decisive in the victory. They connected on 38-from-85 shots for 44.71% from the field, while Perth managed just 41.54% on 27-from-65 attempts. Melbourne's advantage was particularly evident from beyond the arc, where they shot 25.71% compared to Perth's 28.57%, though both teams struggled from downtown. The Wildcats actually performed better from the charity stripe, converting 27-from-30 free throws for 90% compared to United's 65% on 13-from-20 attempts.

Melbourne's dominance on the boards and ball security were key factors in the win. United grabbed 46 rebounds to Perth's 39, with Jesse Edwards leading the way with 16 boards in 27 minutes. The home side also protected possession better, committing just six turnovers compared to Perth's 12. This allowed United to generate more scoring opportunities and control the game's rhythm, ultimately proving too much for the visiting Wildcats to overcome.