Ili leads United back over JackJumpers

The Tasmania JackJumpers almost kept the upsets going to keep themselves right in the finals hunt but Melbourne United stormed back from a 16-point deficit to celebrate their homecoming with the 94-92 win.

The JackJumpers had their spirits lifted with Adelaide losing on Friday night as they also were back on friendly territory at John Cain Arena, but Melbourne scored the first 10 points of the fourth quarter to storm back.

It was Shea Ili who inspired the run with four thieves including one in the last possession in the fourth quarter to ensure Melbourne won by two to stay solid in second.

United had done well to win five of seven games on the road to return to John Cain Arena for the first time since December 23 in second position, but the JackJumpers were just as happy to be back at John Cain Arena.

They had beaten Melbourne there eight of 10 times, including to wrap up the playoff series of NBL22 and the championship of NBL24.

Tasmania has only been averaging 76.6 points over the past five games that they've lost, but put up 32 points in the first quarter and then another 29 in the second to lead by as much as 16 points.

The defending champions were still up 61-51 at the half with import pair Milton Doyle and Jordon Crawford combining for 27 of those points while as a team they were shooting 53 per cent to go with 13 second chance points and 13 points off turnovers.

Tasmania maintained a nine-point lead by three quarter-time, but that all changed when United hit the first 10 points of the final quarter to grab the lead, and turn it into a tense two-point win.

Melbourne stays second at 18-10 with Ili finishing with 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists. He was only credited with two steals but that is robbing what he did in the fourth.

Kyle Bowen stepped up with Jack White not 100 per cent for 15 points and eight rebounds with Rob Loe adding 12 points and five assists, Ian Clark 12 points and Chris Goulding 10 points but none after half-time.

"They scored 61 points in the first half," United coach Dean Vickerman said.

"We gave up second-chance points, we gave up points off turnovers.

"There were a lot of things we tidied up in the second half. Holding them to 30 is where we want to get to defensively."

Tasmania are now 12-16 with the loss and needing a monster win over Cairns next Saturday and for Adelaide to lose big against South East Melbourne and Perth to sneak into the top six.

The JackJumpers only managed 31 points the entire second half with Crawford finishing with 20 points and three assists, Doyle 19 points and seven assists, Majok Deng 15 points, Anthony Drmic 10 points and four rebounds, and Gorjok Gak nine points and five boards.

"I think our guys are just normal. We don't get too high or low about anything," JackJumpers coach Scott Roth said.

"These guys are disappointed. They want to win. The season's been kind of an up and down choppy season in general.

"But there's no use getting stressed or flipping out about it."

The JackJumpers raced out to a 10-5 lead with three-pointers from Reuben Te Rangi and Clint Steindl.

Tasmania then finished the opening quarter with a 13-4 run including the last six points with a Fabijan Krslovic score on the buzzer to have put up 32 points and to be leading by 11 at quarter-time with nine points off the six Melbourne turnovers.

The JackJumpers pushed that lead out to 13 early in the second quarter too when Majok Deng knocked down a three-pointer, and then it was 16 just before half-time when Milton Doyle hit a three ball.

Melbourne did finish the half with three balls to Shea Ili and Chris Goulding to cut the JackJumpers advantage to 61-51 going into the locker room.

Melbourne was always going to fire back and they scored four quick points after Ili steals in the opening 43 seconds to force Scott Roth into a quick timeout.

Tasmania responded from there and after Melbourne had got back within six, heading towards three quarter-time the JackJumpers was back out to 12 and it was still nine by the end of three.

Everything changed in the first three minutes of the fourth quarter with 10 points to Melbourne and a three-point play to Rob Loe gave them a first lead since the opening minutes.

Melbourne never again surrendered the lead and it was the pressure up court from Ili that was massive in the final quarter turnaround and eventual two-point win which was secured when Ili poked the ball away from Crawford who had a chance to win it, or tie it, for Tasmania.

Both teams now finish the regular season next Saturday with United taking on the South East Melbourne Phoenix in a Throwdown while the JackJumpers are at home to the bottom placed Cairns Taipans.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2024/25

MELBOURNE UNITED 94 (Ili 18, Bowen 15, Loe 12, Clark 12)

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 92 (Crawford 20, Doyle 19, Deng 15)

BOX SCORE