Melbourne United’s dream start to NBL26 continued with a runaway 103-83 victory over crosstown rivals South East Melbourne Phoenix in the first Throwdown of the season at a sold out John Cain Arena on Thursday night.
United improved to a perfect 3-0 and have impressively done it without captain and the team’s premier scorer Chris Goulding, registering triple figures in back-to-back games.
Newly acquired import Milton Doyle took over the scoring load for United with a team high 18 points, including 4-8 from three-point land.
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Doyle was instrumental in an early fourth quarter scoring blitz that saw United go on a 22-0 run to break the game wide open.
The 31-year-old launched a timely three before slamming down the biggest dunk of the game to shake the foundations of the arena.
It was certainly not a lone hand on offence for United with six players registering double figure points, including point guard Tyson Walker (13) and forward Fabijan Krslovic (12).
It was a miserable fourth quarter for Phoenix, who had worked hard to break down a 10-point deficit during the third quarter on the back of stand out from veterans Nathan Sobey and John Brown III.
Hot and cold Phoenix
Sobey led all scorers with 26 points at three quarter time, but didn’t add to his tally in the fourth, while Brown was pivotal on both ends, displaying his veteran nous on offence with 12 points and two assists, coupled with his incredible defensive skills with three steals and three blocks.
Brown is a defensive player of the year candidate if the small sample size of two games is anything to go by where he has recorded nine steals.
It continues United’s dominance in the Throwdown, improving to 20-9 all time.
More alarming for Phoenix coach John King was how easily his team rolled over when the going got tough in the fourth.
United, kick-started by three first period triples to Doyle, took a 29-24 quarter time lead.
They camped at the three-point arc in the first period, producing six-from-seven from downtown.
Aggressive guard Sobey kept Phoenix in it with 12 first quarter points.
The defensive mindset that both sides displayed in week one made way for a more free wheeling style of game that made it entertaining for the sold out crowd.
Dynamic Dash
The defensive DNA of United’s Next Star Dash Daniels was on show early with two steals in his first two minutes.
The 17-year-old brother of NBA star Dyson certainly does not lack confidence, scoring nine points.
Daniels got his welcome to the NBL moments on a drive to the hoop when Brown swiped at the ball and left him on the floor.
The first potential spot fire came when DJ Mitchell took out the legs of United youngster Tom Wilson – but the referees kept the benches at bay.
United had the first double digit lead of the game late in the second period as Phoenix’s offence dried up.
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Tenacious Tyson
Walker, who had a game-high eight assists, was showing out for United with his energy on both ends infectious.
While Phoenix’s offence stalled, their defence was still up in the face of the hosts, with Brown and guard Owen Foxwell prominent.
Doyle foolishly tried a crossover on Brown and the veteran coolly picked off the ball.
While Brown came out after half time and showed his offensive repertoire, hitting three consecutive field goals, his teammates got busy on the defensive side of the ball.
Wily veteran Sobey caught fire and Phoenix wrestled back the lead, extinguishing a six-point half time lead in quick time.
But United made a habit of chipping away and went to three quarter time with a five-point lead, which expanded to 10 on the back of a three and a huge dunk from Doyle, and the wheels dramatically fell off for Phoenix.
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