United hold off Kings as rivalry is renewed

There's always something that little bit extra when the two teams meet and in their first clash of #NBL21, this was no different and it was Melbourne United hanging on in a thriller 83-80 against the Sydney Kings as part of the NBL Cup.

The biggest crowd of the NBL Cup at John Cain Arena turned out for the first meeting between United and Kings since last year's dramatic semi-final battle.

That saw Sydney prevail two games to one despite a record 45-point loss in Game 2 which just happened to be the last time the two teams had done battle in Melbourne.

Melbourne came into the game having lost Jack White while regaining Shea Ili but it was Sydney who got off to the hot start hitting the game's opening 10 points from their three-pronged guard set up to start – Casper Ware, DJ Vasiljevic and Shaun Bruce.

The Kings were still up 12 by three quarter-time but United worked their way back into the contest and then big shots from Mitch McCarron and a dunk from Jock Landale helped them take over in the fourth.

The returning Ili then nailed a big three which proved to be enough in the end for the three-point win despite the still as expected frantic finish between the hot rivals.

With Sydney still missing import centre Jarell Martin, they had their hands full with United's Landale who proved a difference-maker with 20 points and eight rebounds.

Scotty Hopson continued his improved form for Melbourne with another 14 points, four rebounds and four assists with Mitch McCarron outstanding at both ends again for 13 points, six assists, five rebounds and two blocks.

Ili made a successful return with 12 points while Yudai Baba impressed again with 11 points and three rebounds.

United coach Dean Vickerman said his side struggled to contain Vasiljevic early but bounced back after quarter time.

"Playing the Kings you have to make shots," Vickerman said.

"We were under 20 per cent from three in the first half so to come out and make eight threes in the second half allowed us to space the floor better.

"We kept our offence simpler in the second half. Mitch, Shae and Hop just made good reads out of the on-ball [screens] whether they moved it, attacked or threw it down to Jock.

"We hold them to 15, 17 and 20 [points] after quarter time, our defence was really committed and we rebounded great in the second half.

"We had some little cameos. Shae, first game back in few weeks, shooting four of six threes and playing the defence he does. Yudai Baba just does some special things at the right time. He made some big shots for us. Everyone chipped in and it was a really good team win."

Despite the result not going their way, there was a lot to like from the effort from the Kings once again with their small line-up to start with DJ Vasiljevic (22 points, 4/7 from deep), Shaun Bruce (17 points, 3/6 from downtown) and Casper Ware (21 points, five assists, four rebounds) tremendous.

Brad Newley chipped in with 10 points and eight rebounds but it ultimately wasn’t quite enough.

Kings coach Adam Forde was disappointed his side missed out on the win.

"We blew it in that stretch in the third and I’m a large part of that as well. We were up 12 points, Casper was given that foul in the post. I thought I would do that referee challenge," Forde said. 

"There was a part of me that wasn’t happy with how we were moving the ball. Then it was quick-sand after that. Melbourne went on a 10-0 run. I thought let's weather the storm and try to keep the time out. 

"But it got really bad and I had to call that time out with two minutes to go in the third quarter. I definitely blew that decision. I will have to re-assess how much I want to gamble on that challenge when it was silly of me to do that.

"In a stretch of four minute and 26 seconds they go on a 16-2 run and that’s the ball game. It’s a learning experience for me. A learning experience for the team and it’s only a loss if we don’t learn anything from it."

The Kings had a 28-16 lead at quarter-time as Melbourne struggled for answers to their small line-up and DJ Vasiljevic’s shooting but United worked back into the contest to set-up a pulsating finish.

Scotty Hopson missed a three after Casper Ware’s long-bomb cut their lead to 81-80 but Ware couldn’t nail his go-ahead shot with just seconds left as Melbourne escaped with the win.

United is next up against the New Zealand Breakers on Friday while the Kings take on the Cairns Taipans on Thursday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 7
NBL CUP WEEK 2

MELBOURNE UNITED 83 (Landale 20, Hopson 14, McCarron 13)

SYDNEY KINGS 80 (Vasiljevic 22, Ware 21, Bruce 17) 

POINTS AWARDED – Melbourne United 6, Sydney Kings 1

BOX SCORE https://nbl.com.au/games/1848997