Sixers show fight, but fall to United

Adelaide 36ers fired home late but were unable to stop NBL24 ladder leaders Melbourne United who took a 107-96 win at John Cain Arena on Saturday night.

The 36ers reduced an 18-point United lead to 91-87 with three minutes remaining in the contest but were unable to complete the comeback.

DJ Vasiljevic was on target all night, scoring a game-high 23 points to go with six assists and two rebounds, while Trey Kell added 22 points with three rebounds and two assists.

The front court duo of Isaac Humphries and Jacob Wiley toiled hard all night, Humphries with 16 points, seven rebounds and five blocks, while Wiley 14 points, eight rebounds and two steals.

Adelaide couldn’t contain a red-hot United, who connected on 15 three-pointers, Melbourne with seven players in double figures, led by Shea Ili (16), Chris Goulding (15) and Jo Lual-Acuil (14).

Vasiljevic opened the scoring before the home side opened an early 7-2 lead, then Adelaide fought back through tough drives from Flowers and Wiley gave the 36ers an 8-7 advantage.

Goulding then hit back-to-back three-pointers before Vasiljevic continued to attack the basket, scoring eight points in the opening quarter, found Humphries inside as the United lead was cut to 15-12.

Wiley started with energy on the glass, hauling in six in the first 10 minutes, Nick Marshall connected on a triple and Vasiljevic kept on driving, but Goulding hit his third three-pointer of the first quarter as United took a 28-23 lead into the first break. 

Humphries started the second quarter with a big dunk and Wiley continued to attack the rim, but United had consecutive highlights from Travers and Hukporti saw United’s lead extend to 36-29.

Alex Starling hit two from the line and Vasiljevic found Kell on the break as Adelaide fought back into the contest straight away, but Tanner Krebs connected on back-to-back three-pointers as United built a game-high 46-37 lead.

Krebs hit a third in-a-row, but Marshall found Humphries for a three-point play then scored a tough bucket himself, but the home side took a 55-42 lead into the main break.

United’s hot shooting continued to start the second half to build their lead to 16 points, but Adelaide hit back-to-back triples from Vasiljevic and Kell to cut the margin to 62-52.

Kell looked to put the 36ers on his back, scoring eight straight points, but United continued to connect from downtown, extending the lead to 75-57.

Adelaide hit back straight away, as Wiley and Mitch McCarron hit consecutive triples, then both sides traded baskets before the 36ers finished the quarter with a 9-0 run to reduce United’s lead to 80-72 with one quarter to play.

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Vasiljevic opened the final quarter with a tough jump shot, then Wiley scored on the fast break to cut the lead to 80-76.

The 36ers had multiple opportunities to cut the lead even further, and potentially take the lead, keeping United scoreless for almost three minutes before Goulding hit his fifth three-pointer.

United built another double-digit lead, but Vasiljevic connected from deep, then Starling scored under the basket to reduce the Melbourne lead to 87-82 with four minutes to play.

Vasiljevic connected on some tough jump shots as the 36ers looked to make one final push but limped to the bench with two minutes remaining and United took full advantage.

Adelaide will be back in action on Christmas Eve when the 36ers face Brisbane Bullets at the Entertainment Centre from 1.30pm.

MELBOURNE UNITED 107 (Ili 16, Goulding 15, Lual-Acuil 14) def ADELAIDE 36ERS 96 (Vasiljevic 23, Kell 22, Humphries 16) at John Cain Arena

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