United dig deep to beat Breakers

It was blow for blow from the outset but it was Matthew Dellavedova's clutch free-throw that secured the NBL leading Melbourne United a hard earned 82-81 win over the New Zealand Breakers.

Both last season's grand finalists, the Breakers, and this season's league-leaders, United, were coming off defeats ahead of doing battle at a sold out TSB Stadium in New Plymouth.

It was a flying start from New Zealand trying to break into the top six as they raced out to a 15-6 advantage with 21-year-old Lithuanian Next Star Mantas Rubstavicius putting up 11 points in the first quarter.

That helped the Breakers to the 22-17 lead and United were up against it missing key starting pair Jo Lual-Acuil (personal reasons) and Shea Ili (concussion symptoms), but they still had their captain Chris Goulding.

Goulding hit Melbourne's lone three-pointer of the half on his way to 13 points but it was New Zealand star forward Anthony Lamb who finished the second quarter with three triples for 14 points and for his team to lead 44-39.

Scorers were locked at 62-62 by three quarter-time and they were still level when Melbourne had the last possession. Dellavedova was left isolated on Breakers guard Will McDowell-White who reached in to foul.

Dellavedova smartly rose up to make it look like he was shooting and it was deemed he'd get the two free-throws. He made the first and deliberately missed the second with Breakers forward Zylan Cheatham (11 points, 10 boards) grabbing the rebound.

Unfortunately for the Breakers, he thought he was still in the NBA and tried to call a timeout which you can't do in the NBL. Time expired and Melbourne won by one to remain clear in top spot at 16-5.

Goulding finished with 24 points for United with Dellavedova adding 14 points and 10 assists, Luke Travers 13 points and 11 boards, and Ariel Hukporti 12 points and three blocks in 32 minutes.

United coach Dean Vickerman was proud of his team's fight to get the win.

"It was absolutely a gutsy win," he said.

"We talked about one of the challenges in sport is once you get to a good level is trying to stay there, and we've been really challenge in some of the games in this period right now.

"But we've responded really well and haven't had two losses in-a-row and there was a conscious effort from the whole group to say there was enough in this locker room to go ahead and win the game."

The loss leaves the Breakers struggling at 8-11 despite 22 points and eight rebounds from Anthony Lamb, 21 points and five assists from Parker Jackson-Cartwright, and 13 points and three blocks from Mangok Mathiang.

Breakers coach Mody Maor was upbeat despite the defeat.

"It was a heavyweight battle, a great opponent and they obviously tested us in many ways, and a lot of the things we did I really liked," he said.

"The ending, obviously less but it's something that we'll learn from and how we respond now is what matters.

"We can either feel sad for ourselves for letting this one drop or we can be pissed and step into the next game with something to prove."

HUNGRY JACKS NBL ROUND 15

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 81 (Lamb 22, Jackson-Cartwright 21, Mathiang 13)

MELBOURNE UNITED 82 (Goulding 24, Travers 13, Dellavedova 13)

BOX SCORE