Analysis · Australian NBL, round 8, regular season 2026/2027
Doolittle and a 26-23 fourth quarter carry Perth past Melbourne
Kristian Doolittle's 23 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists helped Perth Wildcats edge Melbourne United 103-102 in round 8 of the Australian NBL.
SF, Perth · Perth 103-102 Melbourne
Kristian Doolittle
- Points
- 23
- Rebounds
- 10
- Assists
- 8
- Threes
- 3/6
- PIR
- 30
Source: TeamKeys, 2026-10-23
How Perth won the fourth quarter to beat Melbourne 103-102
Perth Wildcats beat Melbourne United 103-102 by taking the fourth quarter 26-23, the only quarter they won all night. The home side had trailed after the first and second periods and were level in the third.
Kristian Doolittle was on the floor for 39 minutes and finished with 23 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists. In a game decided by 1 point, Perth were clean at the line: Doolittle went 4/4 and Elijah Pepper 6/6.
Melbourne's free throws were less tidy. Luke Travers went 2/4 and Josh Oduro 6/8, small margins that carry weight when the final gap is a single point.
| Quarter | Perth | Melbourne |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 25 | 26 |
| Q2 | 21 | 22 |
| Q3 | 31 | 31 |
| Q4 | 26 | 23 |
The third quarter that kept Perth within reach
The third quarter set up the finish: it ended 31-31, so Perth entered the fourth still in touch rather than chasing the game. Neither side could break away in the highest-scoring period of the night.
Melbourne had edged the first quarter 26-25 and the second 22-21. Each time Perth stayed close, and the shared 31 points after the break kept the deficit from growing.
Melbourne's inside scoring was efficient throughout. Travers made 9/12 two-pointers and Oduro 8/11, while Joe Ingles added 11 points, 8 assists and 3 steals off the bench, though also 5 turnovers.
Kristian Doolittle's 23 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists
Kristian Doolittle carried Perth with 23 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 steals in 39 minutes. His PIR of 30 led the game, ahead of Travers on 28.
He shot 5/9 inside the arc, 3/6 from three and 4/4 from the line, with 3 turnovers. All three of his main numbers sat above his season averages of 15.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 6.6 assists across 5 games.
Doolittle ranks 7th of 63 rated players in the league by TeamKeys Rating. Pepper added 22 points despite 2/10 from three, Brandon Knight scored 20 on 6/7 two-pointers, and Dylan Windler had 10 points and 7 rebounds in 22 minutes.
| Player | Points | PIR |
|---|---|---|
| Kristian Doolittle (Perth) | 23 | 30 |
| Luke Travers (Melbourne) | 26 | 28 |
| Josh Oduro (Melbourne) | 22 | 22 |
| Joe Ingles (Melbourne) | 11 | 19 |
| Sam Waardenburg (Melbourne) | 9 | 17 |
| Dylan Windler (Perth) | 10 | 16 |
What the result means for Perth and Melbourne in the NBL table
The win leaves Perth third at 5-2, level on record with second-placed Sydney and behind leaders Tasmania at 6-2. Melbourne stay ninth of ten at 3-5.
Perth's form line now reads W, W, W, L, W, and their next game is against the Sydney Kings on 28 October. That meeting could shape the race behind Tasmania.
Melbourne's recent form reads L, W, W, L, L. They also face the Sydney Kings next, on 25 October, before Perth do.
All figures come from the official box score of Perth Wildcats v Melbourne United, Australian NBL round 8, played on 23 October 2026.
Questions people ask
Who won Perth Wildcats vs Melbourne United?
Perth Wildcats beat Melbourne United 103-102 at home on 23 October 2026, in round 8 of the Australian NBL regular season. Perth trailed after the first and second quarters, drew the third 31-31 and won the fourth 26-23 to take the game by 1 point.
Who was the best player in Perth vs Melbourne?
Kristian Doolittle was the standout, with 23 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 steals in 39 minutes for Perth. He shot 4/4 from the free-throw line and posted a PIR of 30. He ranks 7th of 63 rated players in the league by TeamKeys Rating.
Why did Melbourne lose despite Luke Travers and Josh Oduro?
Luke Travers scored 26 points on 9/12 two-pointers and Josh Oduro added 22, but Melbourne lost the fourth quarter 26-23. Free throws also mattered in a 1-point game: Travers went 2/4 and Oduro 6/8, while Perth's Doolittle and Pepper missed none.
Who do Perth and Melbourne play next?
Both teams face the Sydney Kings next. Melbourne United play them on 25 October 2026, sitting ninth at 3-5. Perth Wildcats, third at 5-2 and level on record with second-placed Sydney, meet the Kings on 28 October 2026.
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