Tucker Walks the Talk for United

He talked a big game this week and Rayjon Tucker backed it up on Wednesday night at the NBL Blitz to spark Melbourne United's 90-63 win in Darwin against the Perth Wildcats.

While the defensive showing from United was tremendous and then Tucker combining with Xavier Rathan-Mayes for 40 points in the backcourt was exciting, the win was somewhat soured with what looked a serious lower leg injury to second year Next Star Ariel Hukporti.

United came into the contest having yet to win this pre-season while the Wildcats had yet to lose with both teams having played a couple of hit outs prior to the Blitz. 

Then in Darwin, Melbourne opened up losing to the Illawarra Hawks while Perth scored wins over the Cairns Taipans and South East Melbourne Phoenix.

United's defence struggled especially in transition against the Hawks, but that was anything but the case on Wednesday night as they held Perth to 30 first half points and 63 for the game including Rathan-Mayes instrumental in keeping Bryce Cotton scoreless to half-time.

Rathan-Mayes then lit it up spectacularly in the third quarter with 10 points. That was on the back of Tucker catching fire in the opening half for 11 points on 4/6 shooting with just as many flex celebrations after knocking down triples and finishing strongly inside.

He declared himself the NBL's best import this week and he backed that up in Melbourne's win finishing with 18 points, seven rebounds and three assists on 7/10 shooting including 3/4 from deep.

Rathan-Mayes top-scored with 22 points and two assists on 4/8 three-point shooting while just as exciting was what Isaac Humphries showed with 12 points, seven rebounds and three assists on 6/7 shooting.

It was a tough night for the 'Cats but returning import TaShawn Thomas did impress in his first hit out in Darwin with 10 points in 14 and-a-half minutes.

Corey Webster added 10 points, five rebounds and three assists, Cotton eight points and seven rebounds, and Majok Majok eight points, five boards, two assists and two blocked shots.

On the back of two wins early in Darwin, Perth started well with Luke Travers, TaShawn Thomas and Todd Blanchfield combining for six straight points. Melbourne responded immediately with eight of their own including Chris Goulding getting the run started.

Perhaps most encouraging for United was the early form shown by Isaac Humphries. He had six points and three rebounds in the first quarter on 3/3 shooting with Zac Triplett capping off the period with a buzzer-beating three for United to lead 21-11.

Goulding and Rayjon Tucker knocked down three balls as part of an 8-0 run to start the second quarter as well as the lead ballooned to 16 before a couple of steadying baskets for Perth from import big Thomas.

Xavier Rathan-Mayes and Corey Webster then traded long balls before Tucker took over for the rest of the half. He knocked down a three, converted an and-one and scored again to go into half-time with 11 points and Melbourne led 48-30.

Bryce Cotton was scoreless for the 'Cats but they at least went into the break with Brady Manek hitting a three as time expired.

Tucker and Ariel Hukporti scored the first two buckets of the second half to push Melbourne's lead out to 22 again before Blanchfield hit from long-range for Perth and then Cotton broke his donut with back-to-back three balls to bring the margin back to 13.

Melbourne responded, though, and this time it was Rathan-Mayes who caught fire. He hit two three-pointers and knocked down another couple of jumpers to help United lead by 26 at three quarter-time when Tucker hit his own three ball as the buzzer sounded.

Thomas threw down a couple of dunks to start the fourth quarter to at least give Wildcats fans something to like from the game, but there would be no comeback to close out the Blitz.

Rathan-Mayes knocked down his fourth triple of the night, Triplett hit his second and United won by 27 to take heart from despite the potentially serious injury to Hukporti.

Day 7 at the NBL Blitz in Darwin will feature the Tasmania JackJumpers against the Cairns Taipans on Thursday followed by the Illawarra Hawks battling the Adelaide 36ers in the battle of undefeated teams.

The Wildcats have now completed their Blitz in Darwin with two wins and a loss as they prepare to open NBL23 next Sunday at home to the Brisbane Bullets. United will complete the Blitz on Friday up against Brisbane as well.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL BLITZ – DAY 6

MELBOURNE UNITED 90 (Rathan-Mayes 22, Tucker 18, Humphries 12)

PERTH WILDCATS 63 (Thomas 10, Webster 10, Cotton 8, Majok 8) 

BOX SCORE