United Too Much for Sixers to Win Seventh Straight

Melbourne United has surged to seven consecutive victories and consolidated their place at the top of the #NBL22 ladder with a complete team performance in their 97-78 win over the Adelaide 36ers in Saturday.

Adelaide was coming off an impressive win over rivals Perth Wildcats in their first game in 31 days and would have fancied their chances of matching United on their home court, even with star centre Isaac Humphries ruled out with a knee injury. 

The 36ers exploded out of the blocks as well, opening up an early 12-point lead reminiscent of their start on Tuesday when leading the 'Cats by 19 points.

That was as good as it got for the home side, outclassed by a well-drilled United that is playing as a unit and potent from all corners of the court. United were not perfect, a third quarter shooting lapse inviting Adelaide back into the contest.

The reality, though, was Adelaide were never a real threat of mowing down a United side locking down on the defensive end.

Their renowned defence was on song holding the Sixers to just 78 points while they put up 97 themselves while hitting 14/36 from three with captain Chris Goulding recapturing his usual role from Matthew Dellavedova going 6/12 for 18 points.

Mitch McCarron couldn’t get going offensively in his first game as Adelaide captain against the team he won a championship with - although he did finish with 10 rebounds and 7 assists. 

Five Melbourne players finished in double figures and United coach Dean Vickerman went deep into his bench to spread the load around. 

Melbourne coach Dean Vickerman was pleased with his bench unit that was able to arrest the early deficit and contribute 40 points towards the vital road win.

"All of the guys who came off the bench, certainly Shea Ili, Mason Peatling, Ariel Hukporti, all of the bench guys, they really lifted us in the second five minutes of the first quarter," he said.

"It was a big play in the game. I thought our bench was a really huge factor in the way we were able to change the game early on - and continue on with it."

Jo Lual-Acuil continued his standout season with 18 points, eight rebounds and three blocks while Next Star Ariel Hukporti was strong on both ends with 12 points and eight rebounds.

Brad Newley enjoyed his homecoming and shook off his battle with COVID-19 to post 10 points. Jack White (12 points, six rebounds) and Mason Peatling (11 points in a last quarter cameo) rounded out the top scorers while David Barlow played a handy nine minutes in NBL game 350.

"I didn't realise I was so close to this milestone until a day or two ago, then it starts to feel like your birthday - you don't want to talk about it," Barlow said.
"I am sure I will look back on it one day and be proud of it, but what is way more important is how we are tracking as a team.

"I consider myself very lucky to have done this for a very long time. Where my head is at with this team, this group of guys, we are - and I am - very fortunate."

Sunday Dech earned the start for the 36ers in his second game of the season and produced 13 points while Dusty Hannahs did what he could in his smaller role of less than 18 minutes with 12 points.

Eleventh hour signing Cam Bairstow was the standout for Adelaide with 18 points and eight boards while Todd Withers (12 points) battled hard with a relatively quiet night for Daniel Johnson with eight points, four rebounds, three assists and two blocks.

Adelaide coach CJ Bruton said the decision to go with Dech over Hannahs in the starting line-up was about the defensive end.

"I wanted to start more defensively, knowing that United is tough in that space," he said.

"Dusty is like my Steph Curry, he will put points on the board and at different times we have seen him do that, we want him to do that. If he gets the best sixth man award he will be happy with that, he wants to do whatever is best for the team."

In just their second game in 36 days and only their seventh game of the season, Bruton said the 36ers are still finding their best rotations and it's not easy with players coming and going in terms of availability.

"It takes 10 games to find that out. There are certain things behind the scenes that you guys aren't told about that we have to deal with and make the best of the situation," Bruton said.

"It's not always as perfect as it looks, but we are heading in the right direction. If we continue to play with that effort we will get better on the offensive end and on the defensive end that will shine through - and we will win more ball games along the way."

Sunday Dech was playing his second game of #NBL22 for Adelaide after a hematoma in his quad and opened the scoring for the 36ers. Dunks from Cam Bairstow and Daniel Johnson reflected Adelaide's strong start inside, the Sixers opening up a 17-9 lead.

Mitch McCarron and Dusty Hannahs splashed some triples to compound United problems, but Shea Ili kept them honest with a three-pointer of his own.

United locked in defensively to graft their way back from the free-throw line as they went on a 17-9 run of their own. Ili had the final say of the quarter and it was United leading 26-24.

Adelaide had issues in the second quarter, giving United two offensive rebounds before Brad Newley hurt them with a triple.

Goulding added another long-range dagger and then Newley hit another bucket to push Melbourne's lead out to eight. Goulding rammed the point home with two more long-range daggers and the rampaging United outfit ballooned that lead out to 16. 

The 36ers went on a six-point run of their own late in the quarter. A three-point play completed at the foul line by Hannahs hoisted Adelaide back to within seven at the main break.

Jack White and Matthew Dellavedova started the third quarter with long bombs for United and all of a sudden Adelaide was staring down a double digit deficit once more.

United simply had weapons everywhere, with Ariel Hukporti dunking in transition and backing it up with another bucket.

Again Adelaide surged, cashing in on Melbourne's shooting drying up in to close within six points heading into the final quarter. 

Even Goulding seemed to lose his stroke temporarily, throwing up an air ball to open the fourth quarter. He quickly made amends with a drought-breaking triple. He nailed another one for good measure, feet off balance, to push his side back out to a 14-point advantage.

It was the nail in the coffin as Adelaide could not bridge that gap. It also allowed Vickerman the luxury of resting star players ahead of a clash with the Brisbane Bullets on Australia Day.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 8

ADELAIDE 36ERS 78 (Bairstow 18, Dech 13, Withers 12, Hannahs 12)

MELBOURNE UNITED 97 (Goulding 18, Lual-Acuil 18, Hukporti 12, White 12) 

BOX SCORE