United prevail in spirited Throwdown

Chris Goulding and Ian Clark combined for six three-pointers and Matthew Dellavedova again came up huge as the experience of Melbourne United was the difference in Thursday's 96-84 Throwdown win over the South East Melbourne Phoenix.

Goulding and Clark had rough shooting nights to open the season in Perth in last Thursday's win over the Tasmania JackJumpers combining for 1/6 shooting from deep.

The sharpshooting pair went 6/15 between them for 33 points at John Cain Arena on Thursday night while the class of Dellavedova, and big men presence of Rob Loe (five points, six rebounds) and Marcus Lee (10 points, seven boards) helped them stay unbeaten for NBL25 and keep the Phoenix winless.

Dellavedova continued his blistering start to the season with 18 points, 10 assists, five rebounds and three steals while Jack White did his best work in the second half for 15 points and eight boards.

Then there was Goulding with 19 points on 4/11 three-point shooting still coming off the bench with Clark putting up 14 points along with three rebounds and two steals.

United coach Dean Vickerman was especially happy with his team's defensive response after giving up 28 points in the first quarter.

"It was a big change to hold them to 12 points in that second quarter," he said.

"We made them shoot shots that we were happy with them shooting. For the most part after quarter-time, we were pretty good."

Matt Hurt (18 points), Jordan Hunter (17) and Derrick Walton Jr (17) impressed for the Phoenix, who faded after their initial burst.

Phoenix coach Mike Kelly knows it's at the defensive end the improvement has to come to avoid being 0-3 by Sunday night on the back finishing last in NBL24.

"We don't consistently do the things that we talk about on defence," Phoenix coach Mike Kelly said.

"There were some moments in the second quarter and sprinkled throughout the second half that really let us down."

Dellavedova signalled his intentions by attacking Nathan Sobey early, but at the other end United were swiftly torched from long range, the Phoenix drilling 6/8 from downtown in the opening term.

Sharpshooting import forwards Hurt and Joe Wieskamp piloted an 11-0 spree, which propelled South East Melbourne to a 28-21 quarter-time lead.

After sizzling in the opening stanza, the Phoenix went ice-cold in the second, missing all 10 from beyond the perimeter as Melbourne clamped down defensively to seize complete control, back-court duo Goulding and Clark influential in the swift turnaround.

Behind Dellavedova's smart playmaking, Melbourne continued to control the tempo in the third, before the Phoenix launched a brief rearguard to start the fourth.

Wieskamp nailed a big three before Walton tied the scores at 70-70 with a tough drive and finish over the much taller Lee.

United responded immediately through Shea Ili's (10 points, four assists) trey and Jack White's dunk.

Sobey's dark night ended when he fouled out late, with nine points on 3/12 shooting.

The athletic White, meanwhile, was devastating down the stretch, putting the contest to bed with a three-point play and finishing off the Phoenix with a slam in the dying seconds.

Both teams back up to play a second game in Round 2 with Melbourne again facing the Tasmania JackJumpers in a Championship Series rematch on Saturday in Hobart.

The Phoenix head to Auckland to play the New Zealand Breakers on Sunday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2024/25

MELBOURNE UNITED 96 (Goulding 19, Dellavedova 18, White 15)

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 84 (Hurt 18, Walton Jr 17, Hunter 17)

BOX SCORE