Luckless two-time reigning NBL defensive player of the year Shea Ili looks set for a third stint on the sidelines with injury this season after pulling up lame in Melbourne United’s pressure relieving 97-75 win over Illawarra Hawks at John Cain Arena on Thursday night.
Ili landed awkwardly on a drive to the hoop during the second quarter and immediately checked himself out of the game, leaving his team to play with four-on-five for that play knowing the injury curse had struck him once again.
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The 34-year-old New Zealander went straight down to the changerooms fearing another hamstring and slammed a crowd barrier down in frustration.
Ili has managed to play just seven out of a possible 20 games this season.
It was a crucial victory for United, entering on the back of four consecutive losses, including overtime heartbreakers in their last two against title contenders Sydney Kings and Adelaide 36ers.
United was in control throughout, but put the foot on the accelerator in a dominant 23-8 fourth quarter.
Crafty point guard Tyson Walker stepped up big time for United in Ili’s absence.
Walker finished with a double-double 21 points, 10 assists and three steals.
He will again be entrusted with big minutes in the United back court with Ili set for another absence.
The ever-consistent Finn Delany was superb for United with 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists, while Tanner Krebs’s 17-point outing was crucial with star shooter Chris Goulding out through illness.
Goulding’s health has been an issue this season, but whenever the skipper has missed, United has found a way with a 6-0 record in games he has missed.
United centre Jesse Edwards muscled up well to Illawarra’s three-time NBA champion JaVale McGee.
Edwards had an important 12 points and nine rebounds, while McGee flashed in and out with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
There was a concern for McGee late though.
The veteran exited the game late in the fourth quarter wincing in pain after copping a poke in the eye from Delany.
Tyler Harvey undoubtedly kept the Hawks in the contest in the first half, but he endured some discomfort with a back issue and was ineffective in the second half, finishing with 18 points after scoring 15 through the first two quarters.
The Hawks slumped to 6-11 and their title defence is hanging by a thread.
Walker sets tone
Walker was aggressive in the opening sequences, setting up Tanner Krebs for game’s opening three, drawing a foul on a drive to the hoop and then landing a corner three as United skipped to an 8-3 lead and setting the time.
Known United killer Will Hickey was cooking early with the Hawks opening five points, but was quiet thereafter.
It took United less than two minutes to eclipse the paltry one three-pointer they hit from 28 long range attempts against the Kings on Sunday.
It was an all-in collective effort on the defensive end for United.
The intensity they showed turned back to their early season feats when they strangled opposition teams.
Bad timing
There was a 10 minute delay to the game just 30 seconds in the third quarter due to a malfunctioning shot clock.
The delay was lengthy enough that both teams had to warm up for a second time.
It is not the first time an NBL game has been delayed due to timing issues with a recent South East Melbourne Phoenix game delayed through a malfunctioning shot clock.
United reacted better to the unscheduled break, restoring their double digit lead with Delany piling on 10 quick points, including a vicious dunk.
United’s Next Star and birthday boy Dash Daniels produced a crucial three pointer early in the fourth to break the backs of the Hawks.
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