36ers fall to United in home opener

Adelaide 36ers have fallen to Melbourne United 82-74 in the club’s NBL24 home opener on Brett Maher Court at the Entertainment Centre on Sunday afternoon.

The visitors fired late in the contest, Chris Goulding and Matthew Dellavedova lifting United as Melbourne went on a 20-3 run in the last quarter for the eight-point success.

Dellavedova got to the free throw line within the first five seconds of play and McCarron picked up his second foul in under two minutes of play, which forced CJ Bruton to go to Jason Cadee.

Cadee was electric for the home side, scoring a team-high 18 points to go with six assists, McCarron battled foul trouble for 12 points and six rebounds.

Jacob Wiley (six points, five rebounds, five assists) threw down an electric dunk to get the big crowd involved, then converted a three-point play.

Flynn Cameron hit back-to-back three-pointers as United’s lead grew to 19-9 after Tanner Krebs also converted from downtown.

The 36ers offense stalled as Melbourne went on 11-0 run to open up a 23-9 lead, but Adelaide responded with back-to-back three-point plays from Tohi Smith-Milner (10 points) and Cadee.

Kyrin Galloway got upstairs for a big dunk from a great dish from Cadee to reduce the United lead to 25-19 at quarter time.

Trey Kell opened his scoring account with a transition three-pointer as Adelaide cut the United lead back to 28-25.

Kell made it back-to-back triples, Galloway converted two free throws and when Cadee hit from downtown, the 36ers had a 33-30 lead.

Dellavedova started to attack the hoop, but it was Cadee and Smith-Milner who kept the Adelaide scoring ticking over.

The 2016 NBA champion hit a ridiculous shot over the backboard as the half time buzzer sounded, but the officials ruled it unsuccessful as Adelaide took a 43-41 lead into the main break.

Melbourne continued to attack the basket to start the second half, Hukporti was dominant at both ends of the floor, then Goulding caught fire, hitting back-to-back three-pointers as United took a 55-50 lead.

Adelaide’s scoring started to stall but Kell found some shooting groove and Alex Starling looked to attack from the low post.

The 34-year-old rookie scored his first NBL point from the free throw line and paired with Galloway increased the 36ers’ defensive pressure.

Cadee hit his second triple of the evening late in the third quarter as Adelaide tied the scores at 57-57 with 10 minutes to play.

Starling gave Adelaide the lead with a jumper to start the final quarter, then Trentyn Flowers brought the 8002 crowd to their feet with a three-pointer from the corner for a 62-57 lead.

Goulding came up clutch, hitting a tough three-pointer and finding himself all alone for a lay-up to lock the game away and when Dellavedova hit a triple, United had a 69-64 lead.

Dellavedova struck another triple after an offensive rebound, then Goulding hit three free throws and the United lead went into double digits and the 36ers couldn’t find a final run to get back into the contest.

MELBOURNE UNITED 82 (Goulding 20, Dellavedova 18, Travers 11) def ADELAIDE 36ERS 74 (Cadee 18, McCarron 12, Kell 10, Smith-Milner 10) at Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

BOX SCORE