Delly strikes early as United win again

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Matthew Dellavedova hit 17 opening quarter points to set up Melbourne United’s 85-71 NBL Blitz win over the Illawarra Hawks.

Matthew Dellavedova is coming into NBL24 with a chip on his shoulder and had 17 points in the first quarter to set up Monday’s 85-71 win for Melbourne United against the Illawarra Hawks.

It was United’s second hit out already at the NBL Blitz this week at the Gold Coast Convention Centre, and fresh off his 28-point performance in Saturday’s win against the Brisbane Bullets, Dellavedova again set the tone for Melbourne.

After his return NBA season at the Sacramento Kings and then being stung by his non-selection to play for the Australian Boomers at the recent FIBA World Cup, Dellavedova came out on fire on Monday evening.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Delly is cooking with 1??7?? points in the first quarter ?‍? <br><br>Watch every game live & free via Kayo Freebies ? <br><br>Outside Australia? Watch via ?? <a href="https://t.co/8LoWsbR7E4">https://t.co/8LoWsbR7E4</a> <a href="https://t.co/F6IRq2M6YU">pic.twitter.com/F6IRq2M6YU</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1703670950649078006?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The triple Olympian and NBA championship winner scorched the Hawks for 17 points in the first quarter including making his first five shots of the game including three of those coming from behind the three-point line.

He was instrumental in Melbourne leading 28-13 by quarter-time and despite Illawarra managing a 12-0 scoring run with Next Star AJ Johnson central to that in the second period, United remained in control 56-34 going into half-time.

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Illawarra worked into the game better in the second half and considering it was a first hit out at the Blitz against a Melbourne team playing for a second time, the Hawks will have taken plenty out of the second half especially to outscore United 37 points to 29 and cut the final margin to 14.

Dellavedova might have only scored three more points after quarter-time and none in the second half, but the damage was done as he finished with 20 points, five rebounds, three assists and a block in 22 minutes.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">NBL Next Star AJ Johnson's first bucket was BIG ? <br><br>Watch every game live & free via Kayo Freebies ? <br><br>Outside Australia? Watch via ?? <a href="https://t.co/8LoWsbRFtC">https://t.co/8LoWsbRFtC</a> <a href="https://t.co/SqZ4NqLR7v">pic.twitter.com/SqZ4NqLR7v</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1703676560291877220?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

There was plenty more to like for Melbourne too including captain Chris Goulding bouncing back from a scoreless first outing for 14 points with 4/8 shooting from three-point territory.

Shea Ili also had 10 points and five rebounds so the United back court of Dellavedova, Goulding and Ili combined for 44 points, 12 rebounds and five assists on a combined 10/20 shooting from three-point range.

Flynn Cameron also showed good signs with nine points in over 19 minutes while Next Star Ariel Hukporti produced eight points, five rebounds, three blocks and two steals, and Luke Travers seven points, eight boards and four assists.

Mason Peatling top-scored for Illawarra against the team he played the first 87 games of his NBL career with. Coming off a championship in the NBL1 South with the Knox Raiders, Peatling delivered 13 points and two rebounds.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">AIR-EL HUKPORTI ? <br><br>Watch every game live & free via Kayo Freebies ? <br><br>Outside Australia? Watch via ?? <a href="https://t.co/8LoWsbRFtC">https://t.co/8LoWsbRFtC</a> <a href="https://t.co/N4W3pLYOWR">pic.twitter.com/N4W3pLYOWR</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1703673229343379960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Tyler Harvey added 11 points and four assists for the Hawks, and Wani Swaka Lo Buluk 10 points and four boards but they will be hoping for more from Gary Clark who had just five points, five rebounds and four steals on 2/9 shooting.

Melbourne will now finish its NBL Blitz campaign against the Sydney Kings to close proceedings on Wednesday night on the Gold Coast. The Hawks will be in action earlier on Wednesday against the Brisbane Bullets before facing the Cairns Taipans on Friday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL BLITZ

MELBOURNE UNITED 85 (Dellavedova 20, Goulding 14, Ili 10)

ILLAWARRA HAWKS 71 (Peatling 13, Harvey 11, Swaka Lo Buluk 10)

BOX SCORE