United Trio Deliver Savage Blow on 36ers

The dynamic backcourt trio of Chris Goulding, Xavier Rathan-Mayes and Rayjon Tucker came up huge to strengthen the NBL23 playoff hopes of Melbourne United while delivering a dagger blow to the Adelaide 36ers with the 94-87 win.

Saturday night's clash at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre always loomed as being a season defining one for both teams, and that's exactly what it could be.

A record crowd of 9505 turned out for the occasion trying to will their Sixers to snap a four-game losing run and keep their season alive, but it wasn’t to be.

Robert Franks did what he could with 24 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and three blocks, but Antonius Cleveland in foul trouble virtually from the outset and Ian Clark not suiting up meant Melbourne had too much.

Goulding helped set it up with 13 points in the first quarter and then another 11 in quick time to open the second half, but the help he got with Tucker and Rathan-Mayes combining for 10 threes and 45 points meant they could overcome losing Shea Ili to another scary head knock.

Every time Adelaide would make a push, Melbourne answered. United were back up 11 midway through the fourth after an 11-0 run. Even though Franks led an Adelaide fightback to close the gap to two, Melbourne responded to win by seven with the last five points.

It's a fifth consecutive win for Melbourne to improve them to 14-12 and back into sixth spot while Adelaide has lost five straight to be all but out of the hunt at 11-14.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Who can stop this man? ? <br><br>Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL23?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL23</a> live on ESPN via Kayo Sports and Foxtel ? <a href="https://t.co/2gpIyC5GdB">pic.twitter.com/2gpIyC5GdB</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1616741487248822273?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Goulding finished with 28 points with 5/10 three-point shooting for Melbourne with Tucker delivering 25 points and 10 rebounds with 4/9 from deep, and Rathan-Mayes 20 to go with four assists. He hit 6/10 from beyond the arc all in the second half.

United coach Dean Vickerman continues to be proud of the efforts his team has delivered to be right in the playoff hunt.

"We know January is a big month for us getting on the road with the tennis and we've been able to put together really solid wins now against good teams on the road so far," Vickerman said.

"Trusting guys down the stretch is something they've earned. They've built a lot of trust over this last little period and tonight was one where we got a great start with CG getting us going right off the first possession.

"We knew that we'd be OK if we could rebound better in the second half and take care of the basketball, and then the shot making from us in the second half was quite incredible as well." 

On top of what Franks did for Adelaide, Kai Sotto had 5 points and seven rebounds, Sunday Dech 14 points and two steals, and Anthony Drmic 13 points and six rebounds.

Adelaide coach CJ Bruton continues to be frustrated that his team just can't seem to put together a good 40 minutes of basketball.

"It's very disappointing to lose in front of our fans like that and play some good patches again," Bruton said.

"It's understanding how we go about the process of continuing to win the first four minutes of a game to winning a game right now. 

"We've got a break and we need to make sure everyone looks after their bodies, and prepares themselves for the next game on the road."

Melbourne arrived in its best patch of form for the season and showed no signs of letting up with Chris Goulding exploding for his team's first 10 points of the contest. 

When Rayjon Tucker joined in, United were up 12-4 and the 36ers needed to dig deep with their season on the line. They got a couple of buckets to Kai Sotto, Sunday Dech hit a three and they did get back within two.

However, Antonius Cleveland picked up a third foul and Melbourne went on another 7-0 scoring run beginning with two Marcus Lee inside finishes and then a three ball from David Okwera.

That saw United lead 28-21 by the end of one on the back of 13 points from Goulding and shooting 50 per cent as a team.

The Sixers did come out strongly to start the second with the first six points including a three from Hyrum Harris leading to a Dean Vickerman timeout. 

It worked with Melbourne scoring the next nine points including one from beyond the arc by Tucker and an alley-oop finish from Lee on the pass from Shea Ili.

That put Melbourne up by 10 and in control, but to the 36ers' credit they responded well and finished the half strongly with 13 of the last 15 points.

Anthony Drmic was key to that with the last six which saw Adelaide grab the lead and go into half-time up 40-39.

Goulding might have scored just two points in the second quarter after going for 13 in the first, but he lit it up to open the second half with three more long bombs in the opening four minutes. He had 26 points and his team was up six.

However, they copped a blow with Ili ruled out after taking another head knock and Adelaide soon worked their way back on top.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WOW ? Major put back from Antonius Cleveland ?<br><br>Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL23?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL23</a> live on ESPN via Kayo Sports and Foxtel ? <a href="https://t.co/CzBX72P7sZ">pic.twitter.com/CzBX72P7sZ</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1616748718002212869?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Melbourne was able to respond, hitting nine three-pointers for the quarter with Goulding making those first three, Xavier Rathan-Mayes hitting a couple after a scoreless first half and Tucker knocking down three in quick time.

That kept United on top 70-64 at three quarter-time but with Cleveland in foul trouble and Ian Clark not playing, Franks needed to step up for Adelaide. He hit two threes to start the fourth and not long after scores were all square.

But the dynamic United trio of Goulding, Rathan-Mayes and Tucker wouldn’t be denied. They helped Melbourne to score another eight straight points to lead by eight with five minutes to play.

Rathan-Mayes nailed his fifth long ball soon after to stretch the lead to 11 with the 11-0 run that broke the game open for good.

The Sixers did make one last run with Franks refusing to give up. They did get back to two after a Cleveland putback slam, but no closer with Melbourne winning by seven to strengthen their playoff push, and just about end that of Adelaide.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="it" dir="ltr">Shea Ili denied Kai Sotto??<br><br>?: ESPN on Kayo Sports or Foxtel <a href="https://t.co/I2zltcjozm">pic.twitter.com/I2zltcjozm</a></p>&mdash; Melbourne United (@MelbUnited) <a href="https://twitter.com/MelbUnited/status/1616733245047209986?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

United next head to Auckland to play the New Zealand Breakers next Saturday before finishing at home to Adelaide on Sunday February 5.

The Sixers take on the Cairns Taipans next Monday before finishing at home to Sydney and away to Melbourne.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 16

ADELAIDE 36ERS 87 (Franks 24, Sotto 15, Dech 14) 

MELBOURNE UNITED 94 (Goulding 28, Tucker 25, Rathan-Mayes 20)

BOX SCORE