McVeigh's magical game-winner sparks Tassie

The Tasmania JackJumpers are one win away from clinching a maiden NBL title after Jack McVeigh's last-ditch three sealed a 93-91 upset of Melbourne United in Game 3 of the Championship Series.

McVeigh put up a prayer from well behind the three-point line after Matthew Dellavedova turned over an in-bounds pass with just seconds left.

Milton Doyle made the quick decision to save the ball from going out of bounds and got the ball to McVeigh who dribbled just beyond halfcourt.

He pulled up to put up the prayer with the shot rattling in, sparking wild scenes among the travelling contingent of JackJumpers fans in the 10,175-strong crowd at a sold-out John Cain Arena on Sunday.

The lead changed hands seven times in the frantic last three-and-a-half minutes before McVeigh settled the contest.

He finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds in a huge performance, with Majok Deng (15 points) also vital after stepping up when import centre Marcus Lee limped off with a leg injury and the JackJumpers went with him at the centre spot ahead of Will Magnay.

Jordon Crawford and Milton Doyle scored 14 points each, while Dellavedova (21) and captain Chris Goulding (17) led United's scoring.

Tasmania lead 2-1 in the best-of-five series, which returns to Hobart for Game 4 on Thursday night.

If required, Game 5 will be played in Melbourne next Sunday.

Restricted to their lowest-scoring half of the season at the back end of Game 2, Melbourne got off to a hot start back on their home court.

They skipped out to a 15-6 lead in the opening minutes when Goulding cashed in on a Doyle unsportsmanlike foul and Dellavedova drained a follow-up three.

The home side led 25-20 at quarter-time and Magnay was hit with a technical foul for flopping after front-on contact from Dellavedova early in the second term.

But the JackJumpers wouldn't lie down, taking the lead for the first time in the shadows of half-time after successive threes from Doyle, whose tally of 11 first-half points was bettered only by Dellavedova (12).

After three misses, Goulding banked his first triple on the buzzer to give Melbourne a 44-43 half-time lead.

Tasmania temporarily lost their leading scorer when Doyle was benched after receiving his third and fourth fouls in the opening 80 seconds of the second half.

Lee had to be helped off late in a fiery third period, during which Goulding hit three triples to give United a 69-62 buffer turning for home.

A huge Ariel Hukporti jam over two opponents brought fans to their feet and set the tone for a gripping final quarter that went down to the wire.

Tasmania hosts Melbourne on Thursday night at MyState Bank Arena from 7.30pm AEDT, live on ESPN via Kayo. 

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES GAME 3

MELBOURNE UNITED 91 (Dellavedova 21, Goulding 17, Travers 14)

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 93 (McVeigh 18, Deng 15, Crawford 14, Doyle 14)

Tasmania leads best-of-five series 2-1

BOX SCORE