United Flex Muscles at Home to Adelaide

Melbourne United showcased their depth once more and overcame a slow start to end up hammering the Adelaide 36ers 101-74 at John Cain Arena on Sunday.

Already missing David Barlow to a foot injury, United lost Caleb Agada to COVID protocols in the lead up the match. Compounding their challenges stars Matthew Dellavedova and Chris Goulding both left the court in the first quarter for treatment to suspected injuries.

Both Dellavedova and Goulding were able to return later in the match and play instrumental roles, but in the meantime, the United bench was asked to step up and delivered in spades.

Veteran Brad Newley (15 points, four rebounds and a block) had an enormous game with a stat line more reminiscent of when he was in his prime as a European and Boomers superstar.

Next Star Ariel Hukporti was also admirable off the bench with 11 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals while MVP contender Jo Lual-Acuil (15 points, nine rebounds) won the battle against the Adelaide big men in the paint.

Even development player Zac Triplett got a slice of the action, living up to his name with a late triple that had the Melbourne crowd in raptures.

It was a vital win for United, who now face a tough month of fixtures including two matches against the Illawarra Hawks and pivotal games against Perth and South East Melbourne as they attempt to consolidate top spot.

It was an unexpected bonus for United coach Dean Vickerman who said they needed to test their depth heading into the business end of the season.

"It was probably not the first two minutes that I wanted tonight. CG and Delly were both looking at me wanting a sub and had injuries. Delly came back, it was an ankle sprain, and CG had tightness in his hamstring but he got through that well," Vickerman said.

"What we were hoping from this game, with Caleb out, was to challenge our depth in that position. Dion Prewster, since coming back from the national team, he has been really good at practice.

"It's a really good reward for him to play 19 minutes and he was really solid. Missing Delly, Shea, that was something we needed to test. We got to test that today and I thought Dion was fantastic."

Adelaide gave their fans something to cheer about on Friday when they hammered Cairns and they started hot against a Melbourne team they had already beaten this season. However, once United got going Adelaide had very few answers. 

Daniel Johnson toiled with 18 points and four rebounds, but the big positive for Adelaide was the performances of young players Tad Dufelmeier (11 points, five rebounds, three assists) and Kai Sotto (12 points, four rebounds) to provide hope for the future. 

Adelaide coach CJ Bruton said Melbourne's physicality in the second half played a role but was disappointed in his team's inability to match it.

"I like think that in the first quarter we set the tone right, competed pretty well and made some tough buckets. Unfortunately Delly got hurt and they shifted some bodies. But the first half overall, I thought we were pretty solid," Bruton said.

"Some things got away from us though where we can clean it up and be better. In the second half, our execution - and I played my part in that role - got a little sloppy, looked a little rushed and we looked a little panicky - they took us out of our stuff.

"They can push you out of your stuff with their physicality, they are good in that space and have done that pretty well all year."

With Agada and Barlow out, United was already skinny coming into the first quarter. A 7-0 run from Adelaide in the opening two minutes didn't help and it looked bad for Melbourne when both Dellavedova and Goulding left the court for treatment. 

Dion Prewster was even called into action after just seven games this season, averaging just two minutes. However, the home side managed to grind their way back and Goulding returned to splash a trademark triple.

Adelaide managed to remain in the lead at the close of the quarter, but only just - leading 20-18 heading into the second term.

A Shea Ili triple helped Melbourne steal the lead and when Jack White slammed home a breakaway dunk, suddenly United was leading 33-29 and CJ Bruton called a timeout to help arrest the momentum.

It didn't help as Newley defied his age to come off the bench with immediate impact, hitting five points in the space of less than a minute. When Ili splashed his second triple, all of a sudden the United lead was out to eight points.

However, triples to Daniel Johnson and Mojave King helped the visitors claw their way back. Goulding had a late open look that rimmed out, but still, it was United leading 46-41 after a dominant second term.

If the hamstring twinge was hurting Goulding, he wasn't showing it as he landed a three-pointer while off-balance and heavily guarded to push the lead out to 11. Johnson responded with a triple of his own to keep his side in the hunt.

Dellavedova returned to the court in the third quarter and was a big difference, helping Marshall his troops and assist United in tightening up on the defensive end. 

A decisive triple from Goulding helped turn that defensive pressure into a vice and by the three quarter-time, United was leading 69-56 and well in control.

Dellavedova showed some offensive punch in the final quarter to blow the lead out to 20 and Bruton's frustrations began to show as he fumed about not being able to challenge a goal-tending call from the officials.

It didn't get any better for Adelaide, who slid to 1-8 on the road and now at 6-13, they are just trying to avoid the wooden spoon.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 16

MELBOURNE UNITED 101 (Lual-Acuil 15, Newley 15, White 12)

ADELAIDE 36ERS 74 (Johnson 18, Sotto 12, Dufelmeier 11) 

BOX SCORE