United win Throwdown to secure second

Melbourne United's hold on a top two finish was briefly in jeopardy but they responded in the second half to beat the South East Melbourne Phoenix 103-93 to earn a break ahead of the NBL playoffs.

The Phoenix had to beat United by 22 or more points at John Cain Arena in the Throwdown to set up a return encounter with the two teams in a Play-In Game this week by pushing Melbourne to third.

South East Melbourne did lead by 12 early in the second half, but Melbourne hit back and started the fourth with the first seven points for the eventual 10-point win.

Melbourne finishes second at 19-10 while South East Melbourne stays fourth at 16-13 and will take on the Wildcats in Perth on Tuesday night.

The win to turn everything on its head for the Phoenix looked decidedly off the table in the first quarter and-a-half with Melbourne leading by as much as six points still late in the second, but then the Phoenix turned the tide.

They went on an 18-3 scoring run and were leading 54-46 by half-time on the back of shooting 51 per cent to Melbourne's 45, and scoring nine second chance points on seven offensive rebounds.

That margin to knock Melbourne from second was right on the cards early in the second half when the Phoenix came out to score the first four points to be leading by 12, but United soon fired right back up.

United responded with a 12-2 run and by three quarter-time the teams couldn’t be split but Melbourne kept the momentum going with a hot start to the fourth on the way to the eventual 10-point win.

Melbourne have now earned a two-week break ahead of the playoffs beginning with Shea Ili finishing with 18 points and two assists with Tanner Krebs delivering 16 points on 4/5 three-point shooting.

Kyle Bowen added 15 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks, Matthew Dellavedova 14 points and six assists, and Chris Goulding 12 points on 3/12 from deep.

"It was a nervous day for me," Melbourne United coach Dean Vickerman said.

"It was kind of like a free hit for them to go out and shoot, and nothing really matters about what they do.

"Any time you have a team coming in with that mode is really dangerous. The goal for this club every year is can we finish top two, and we ticked that one off."

The Phoenix now head to Perth for a fourth time in NBL25 after Ben Ayre put up 15 points and three assists with Matt Hurt adding 14 points and seven rebounds, Angus Glover 11 points and five boards, and Nathan Sobey 11 points, five rebounds and three assists.

"The seeding was already determined going into this game barring something crazy," Phoenix coach Josh King said.

"We were trying to win the game, but that wasn't the main focus. The main focus was to get a good practice, sweat session in before we go and play Perth on Tuesday night."

Melbourne made a strong start going up 9-5 when Chris Goulding knocked down a three ball and United stayed in front with triples to Flynn Cameron and Shea Ili, and then another couple to Aliir Aliir and Tanner Krebs.

That ensured Melbourne were still on top 30-26 by quarter-time while their lead was again back out to six early in the second, but then the Phoenix worked their way on top by upping the ante.

Joe Wieskamp made a three-pointer to tie scores up and the Phoenix then went on a 9-0 scoring run by being physical going to the basket and that included a three-point play for Angus Glover.

Ben Ayre and Nathan Sobey then hit threes on the way to combining for 19 in the first half, and by the break it was South East Melbourne on top 54-46 and within touching distance of avoiding a trip to Perth in the coming days.

The Phoenix threatened to take charge further to start the second half with an Owen Foxwell and-one and five quick points to Matt Hurt to have them up by 12.

But sparked by Ili, Melbourne got right back into the contest including with triples to Kyle Bowen and Goulding as they quickly turned that 12-point deficit into their own lead before the scores were locked at 76-76 by three quarter-time.

Krebs knocked down another three to get United rolling to start the final period too with a 7-0 run putting them up by seven and they would never again be headed securing the 10-point win to level the season series with the Phoenix at two wins apiece.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2024/25

MELBOURNE UNITED 103 (Ili 18, Krebs 16, Bowen 15)

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 93 (Ayre 15, Hurt 14, Sobey 11, Glover 11)

BOX SCORE