United beat Hawks as Lual-Acuil Jr returns

Melbourne United have celebrated the long-awaited return of Jo Lual-Acuil Jr, but it was fellow centre and Next Star Ariel Hukporti who starred in a 101-91 road defeat of the Illawarra Hawks.

NBL heavyweights United only moved clear from last season's wooden spooners towards the end of the third quarter following a high-scoring first half at WIN Entertainment Centre on Friday.

Again sloppy from the field, the Hawks missed nine consecutive shots to finish the third period as United opened up a 14-point lead that proved match-winning.

"We just have these patches against really good basketball teams that let us down," said Hawks coach Jacob Jackomas.

"The shots weren't disgusting today, just some little things right now. We said that before with the team is that we need to do all the little things right against this basketball team and we didn't."

The victory improves Melbourne's record to 5-1 ahead of returning home to host the New Zealand Breakers on Sunday fresh off their NBLxNBA trip.

Big man Gary Clark (17 points) was one of few Hawks who got his eye in, with imports Tyler Harvey (19 points, 6/16 attempts) and Justin Robinson (nine points, 2/8) again struggling.

Robinson was one of three Hawks to foul out, alongside big men Sam Froling and Lachlan Olbrich.

Despite Illawarra's shooting issues, United gave up more first half points (51) than in any other of their games this season.

The Hawks dominated the offensive glass (18-10) and punished United with 21 points from turnovers.

But they finished the day shooting at 38 per cent from the field to United's 53, which made things difficult, especially when United locked the paint down in the third quarter.

"It took us a little bit of time to wake up with their physicality and the way they got after it," said United coach Dean Vickerman.

NBL champion Lual-Acuil Jr returned from a wrist injury for the first minutes of his United comeback, while NBA hopeful Hukporti (21 points, 10 rebounds) shone for the visitors.

Hukporti was United's rock under the basket and a defensive board in the final minute sealed his third double-double from five games this season.

"I think I've found my role in the team now, it took me a while because I'm coming off the (achilles) injury and it was a year out," Hukporti said.

"I've got it now, I know what my role is and I think I did a great job today."

Lual-Acuil Jr had a scratchy start, missing his first two free-throws and subbing out to change out of an incorrect pair of shorts, but went on to register 12 points on a minutes restriction.

Projected NBA draft lottery pick AJ Johnson had his best Hawks game yet, but was again short on opportunities.

The teenager set the crowd alight with his first NBL three-pointer just after quarter time and sent a dime through traffic that led to a Gary Clark jam on transition soon afterwards.

A four-point play from United veteran Chris Goulding (12 points) gave the visitors what was then a game-high eight-point lead at the main break.

The notorious sharpshooter was fouled by Daniel Grida as he sank his basket near the halfway line and then made his one free throw.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 4

ILLAWARRA HAWKS 91 (Harvey 19, Clark 17, Lee 11)

MELBOURNE UNITED 101 (Hukporti 21, Clark 16, Travers 15) 

BOX SCORE