Clark shoots United to pre-season Throwdown win

Sunday, September 10, 2023

Ian Clark delivered a blistering finish as Melbourne United beat the South East Melbourne Phoenix 89-86 in a pre-season Throwdown.

Ian Clark showed that he's ready to fire in NBL24 for Melbourne United with 15 points in the last three minutes of the 89-86 pre-season Throwdown win over South East Melbourne Phoenix.

Exactly a week out from the opening of the NBL Blitz next Saturday on the Gold Coast, United and the Phoenix produced a cracking finish to their pre-season Throwdown battle at Casey Stadium on Saturday night.

After a tight battle in the opening half, the Phoenix took charge in the third quarter and it was Mitch Creek leading the charge as he put the team on his back with support from Ben Ayre and Will Cummings.

South East Melbourne were able to open up an eight-point lead and were still up by that margin with just over three minutes to play when Ayre drained a three-point bomb.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Ian Clark went into takeover mode for <a href="https://twitter.com/MelbUnited?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MelbUnited</a> to get them across the line in the fourth quarter.<br><br>19 of his 28 points came in the final term ? <a href="https://t.co/68WQqpEgX0">pic.twitter.com/68WQqpEgX0</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1700465304503992664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

But that's when Clark came to life for United to show just what an asset he will be this NBL season. While he's played in the league the last two seasons firstly helping the Sydney Kings win a championship and then at the Adelaide 36ers, he's arrived midway on both occasions.

That's not the case this time and there's plenty of reasons for Melbourne to be excited about that based on what he did in the last three minutes on Saturday night.

The NBA and NBL championship winner started his own 11-0 run with a jumper with 2:45 to play before knocking down three huge three-point bombs in the space of 30 seconds to give his new team the lead.

He scored again on the next possession taking the ball to the hoop and then ultimately iced the game with two free-throws not long after a sensational block from behind by Ariel Hukporti on the driving Cummings from the Phoenix.

It was a spectacular way to finish a pre-season game with Clark ending up with 28 points with 6/10 three-point shooting with 15 of those points in the final three minutes.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">That'll be a NO from Anzac Rissetto ?<br><br>Stream every pre-season game live and free on the NBL app - <a href="https://t.co/2kInUAigYt">https://t.co/2kInUAigYt</a> ? <a href="https://t.co/xSAROvpf07">pic.twitter.com/xSAROvpf07</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1700445618936701198?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

It was a night where Melbourne was without Matthew Dellavedova, Jo Lual-Acuil, Rob Loe and Chris Goulding but Luke Travers was tremendous in his 21 minutes with 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Shea Ili is fresh off playing at the FIBA World Cup for New Zealand but is gearing up for a bounce back season too with 16 points, five rebounds and five assists while Hukporti impressed on his comeback trail with eight points, four rebounds and two blocks.

A pre-season clash a week out from the Blitz is more about working on things than the result. On the back of that, there was plenty for new Phoenix coach Mike Kelly to like with his team without Alan Williams, Gorjok Gak, Matt Kenyon and Gary Browne.

Mitch Creek was outstanding on the back of an off-season playing in Puerto Rico with 32 points on 10/18 shooting from the field and 10/11 from the foul line.

Will Cummings added 18 points, four steals and three assists, Ben Ayre 18 points on 7/11 shooting, and Owen Foxwell seven points and five rebounds.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"Ariel Hukporti. My goodness"<br><br>Stream every pre-season game live and free on the NBL app - <a href="https://t.co/2kInUAigYt">https://t.co/2kInUAigYt</a> ? <a href="https://t.co/8Fqaf1T3fR">pic.twitter.com/8Fqaf1T3fR</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1700454577303101709?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Both teams now turn their attention to the NBL Blitz beginning next weekend on the Gold Coast. Both are in action on Saturday with the Phoenix first up against the Tasmania JackJumpers before United face the Brisbane Bullets.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL PRE-SEASON GAME

MELBOURNE UNITED 89 (Clark 28, Travers 16, Ili 16)

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 86 (Creek 32, Ayre 18, Cummings 18)

BOX SCORE