United Flex Defensive Muscle in Game 1 Over JackJumpers

Melbourne United have flexed their defensive muscle in Game 1 of their semi-final series against the Tasmania JackJumpers with an impressive 74-63 victory on Thursday night.

United opened up the NBL Finals by hosting the first game at John Cain Arena and while Jack McVeigh helped to spark the JackJumpers early, Melbourne's defence was imposing the rest of the way.

Tasmania was still in the contest at half-time down just five on the back of getting to the foul line 14 times to two, but Melbourne took over in the third quarter holding the JackJumpers to seven points on 2/16 shooting.

The lead was out to 19 by three quarter-time with Melbourne cruising to the 11-point win to move within one victory of another Grand Final appearance as they attempt to win back-to-back championships for the first time.

It was a masterclass defensive performance from United holding the JackJumpers to 36 per cent shooting and 3/14 from beyond the arc while their size advantage shone out as the game wore on.

United pulled down 52 rebounds opposed to 32 from Tasmania including 18 to six at the offensive end while Jo Lual-Acuil blocked six shots on his way to 15 points and seven rebounds as well.

Caleb Agada added 16 points and seven rebounds for Melbourne, Matthew Dellavedova 11 points, six boards and five assists, Chris Goulding nine points, and Shea Ili eight points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals.

United coach Dean Vickerman was delighted with the way his team came out and set the tone for the finals defensively.

"I love the way that we came out tonight. Delly set a tone defensively and the way that him and Shea really attacked their guards early on, that kind of pushed everybody to another level," Dellavedova said.

"The way that over the course of the night that we took away their three ball, which has been something over this last period that they've made the most in the league of, was impressive even though it still can be improved on. 

"I loved the intent of us really pressuring the guards, running them off, making it difficult and then obviously Jo's rim protection when people came downhill was outstanding. Ariel as well even though he didn’t come up with as many blocked shots. We got the job done defensively and in a playoff game to hold someone to 63 is outstanding."

Josh Adams top-scored for the JackJumpers with 16 points and five rebounds with Jack McVeigh contributing 15 points and four boards, Clint Steindl eight points, and MiKyle McIntosh seven points, three rebounds and two assists.

JackJumpers coach Scott Roth was proud of the fight his team dug deep to give, but the tenacity of United was too much overall.

"Their overall physicality and they've got some pit bulls in the backcourt that can really get after you, and it was about us trying to navigate that," Roth said.

"It's a hell of a team but I'm really proud of our guys for not just imploding and letting go of it, but fighting back in this game and making it respectable. 

"There's not many times you walk out of a game and hold your opponents to 74 points and you've lost a game like that. It's a battle and this is like the Detroit Pistons versus the Chicago Bulls old school style bang up, smashmouth kind of a game. We had a good fight."

It was Matthew Dellavedova in his first ever NBL post-season game who opened up with the game's first five points for Melbourne before Fabijan Krslovic was an unlikely first scorer for the JackJumpers.

Shea Ili then knocked down a triple for United for an 8-2 start but it was Jack McVeigh who sparked Tasmania as he has so often this season. He scored seven of his team's next nine points to draw level.

However, deep jumpers to close out the opening period for Melbourne to Ili, Mason Peatling and Yudai Baba put the home side on top 20-15.

Jo Lual-Acuil then put his stamp on proceedings early in the second quarter with six quick points including a couple of powerful dunks that he let his opponents know all about.

That helped Melbourne go up nine and Chris Goulding's three soon made it 10, but the JackJumpers did a good job of hanging around. 

Tasmania was aggressive going inside evidenced by attempting 14 free-throws for the half to two from Melbourne, and that helped limit United's lead to 41-36 at the main break.

The JackJumpers scored first in the second half through Krslovic but Melbourne soon took over hitting the next 11 points including a big finish at the rim from Ariel Hukporti to open up a 52-38 advantage.

Five quick points from Clint Steindl provided some rest bite for Tasmania, but in the end the JackJumpers managed just seven points on 2/16 shooting for the quarter and by three quarter-time, Melbourne was up by a game-high 19 points.

The JackJumpers would have at least taken some confidence out of being able to put up 20 points in the final quarter but United was able to cruise to the 11-point win.

Game 2 will be Saturday night at Hobart's MyState Bank Arena.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL FINALS – SEMI FINALS GAME 1

MELBOURNE UNITED 74 (Agada 16, Lual-Acuil 15, Dellavedova 11)

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 63 (Adams 16, McVeigh 15, Steindl 8) 

Melbourne leads best-of-three series 1-0

BOX SCORE