Finals assignment awaits in United test

It’s now or never, the time has come, however you want to say it, the Adelaide 36ers season has come down to one game.

Sunday’s clash against Melbourne United at John Cain Arena is now a potential finals showdown with the mathematicians having worked out a number of permutations and equations.

The assignment for the 36ers, who kept its season alive with a 115-108 win against Sydney at the Entertainment Centre on Friday night, beat United and hope the Kings beat Perth, with the margin of both results ending 43 points in Adelaide's favour.

Adelaide has to beat United by 23 points on Sunday to have a chance to make the top six, and if the Kings defeat the Wildcats in Perth by at least 20 points, the 36ers will be finals bound.

Head coach CJ Bruton said his side will be going out all guns blazing against a United side who have stormed home in the back end of the NBL23 season.

“Do we have to go for a number, do we have to go and do something spectacular,” Bruton said.

“Do we have to be Golden State, I got a guy who use to play for them, if we have to go put 50 on the board.

“I got guys who can shoot a ball.”

United will be looking for a big win too to keep their finals hopes alive. If Melbourne defeat the 36ers by more than Perth beat Sydney, or the Wildcats lose, United make the top six.

“I’m already got my focus on Melbourne in Melbourne, Sellout crowd, that’s a championship environment, you know what they bring and what they’re about,” Bruton said.

“From (Chris) Goulding, to (Dean) Vickerman, we know what they have done in this competition for the past eight years or more.

“It’s always about staying in the moment.”

Bruton said his side believes and understands they can achieve something special on Sunday and he has been involved in a similar result.

In 2020 when Bruton was assistant coach in Brisbane, the Bullets beat Cairns Taipans by 36 points in the final round to give themselves a chance at making the playoffs.

Ironically, it was a Melbourne United win the next day which inevitably eliminated the Bullets’ dream.

“We are still alive, we are still in the dog fight, so whatever happens, go win the next game,” Bruton said.

“I’ve been part of that, been part of a team that has put points on the board in Brisbane.”

MELBOURNE UNITED vs ADELAIDE 36ERS
John Cain Arena, Sunday 1.30pm ACDT
LIKELY STARTERS
United: Rathan-Mayes, Goulding, Tucker, Peatling, Lee.
36ers: Clark, McCarron, Cleveland, Franks, Sotto
LAST TIME
MELBOURNE UNITED 94 (Goulding 28, Tucker 25, Rathan-Mayes 20) def ADELAIDE 36ERS 87 (Franks 24, Sotto 15, Dech 14) at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.
BOX SCORE