Match wrap: Sixers fall agonisingly short in Melbourne

Two title contenders put on the game of NBL26 so far with Tyson Walker the last gasp hero with the three ball off an offensive rebound for Melbourne United to beat the Adelaide 36ers 81-80.

Sunday's top-of-the-table blockbuster at a sold-out John Cain Arena lived up to the hype, with Melbourne (9-0) having the final say.

DJ Vasiljevic's three-pointer had put the Sixers in front 80-78, before he committed an over-and-back turnover with 16 seconds left, giving United one last shot at glory.

Clutch maestro Milton Doyle missed a triple with seven seconds remaining, before Jesse Edwards tipped the offensive rebound to the corner, where Walker chose the perfect moment to cast aside his recent shooting woes.

The dynamic first-year guard had missed his only three-point attempt of the game and shot just 2/11 overall, but was cool in the heat of the moment to hit from the corner and put Melbourne up one.

Adelaide called a timeout, advanced the ball, and nearly pinched a miracle when Vasiljevic's long bomb on the full-time buzzer rimmed out.

It was every bit of a playoff-like contest between the league's top two teams and ultimately Melbourne's 17 offensive rebounds to nine and 24 free-throw attempts to 11 were critical factors in the end result.

While there was a big focus on Melbourne guarding five-time MVP Bryce Cotton without Shea Ili coming into the game, perhaps the most fascinating match up ended up being with the two centres.

While foul trouble kept both to the 20-minute mark, Jesse Edwards was brilliant for Melbourne with 25 points and seven rebounds on 10/10 shooting while Isaac Humphries held up his end for Adelaide with 18 points, two boards, two assists and two blocks on 9/10 shooting.

Chris Goulding had another 14 points with three triples for Melbourne with Finn Delany adding 13 points, five rebounds and four assists, and Milton Doyle 10 points and five assists despite 2/11 shooting.

Cotton ended up with 22 points and six assists for Adelaide but also had six turnovers and only the five free-throw attempts with Walker and Next Star Dash Daniels guarding him for the most part.

Zylan Cheatham was a powerful force for the Sixers with 21 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists with Vasiljevic adding 11 points and four assists with 3/8 shooting from deep.

The first quarter was an attritional, defence-dominated grind, at the end of which Adelaide crept ahead 17-14.

Cotton missed all five field-goal attempts in that opening term before exploding in the second as the Sixers moved ahead by seven points.

Goulding had an animated conversation with Adelaide coach Mike Wells, who accused the Melbourne skipper of flopping on an offensive foul against 36er Michael Harris.

Goulding responded with a tough four-point play - and a stare-down of Wells - as United claimed control via an 11-0 run either side of half-time.

Melbourne's 11/35 shooting in the opening half was offset by a massive 8-1 advantage on the offensive glass.

Behind Edwards and Goulding - and some foul problems for Adelaide's big men - United remained in the driver's seat in the third, before Cheatham and Humphries combined to rip the momentum back the Sixers' way in the fourth.

Humphries' huge dunk over Edwards inside the last three minutes put the Sixers up by six points, before Melbourne threw the last, decisive punch.

The 36ers return home to play host to the Illawarra Hawks next Sunday while later that same day United will take on the Sydney Kings at John Cain Arena.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26

MELBOURNE UNITED 81 (Edwards 25, Goulding 14, Delany 13)

ADELAIDE 36ERS 80 (Cotton 22, Cheatham 21, Humphries 18)

BOX SCORE