NBL22 Match Recap: Round 5 v Tasmania JackJumpers

Melbourne United have extended their winning streak to four games, taking down the Tasmania JackJumpers on the road to ring in 2022.

The game started as many have across United’s previous three games, with Caleb Agada getting buckets.

The hot scoring import tallied Melbourne’s first four points, before Jo Lual-Acuil Jr got in on the action, adding five points of his own.

With his teammates rolling, Chris Goulding eased his way into the scoring, playing patiently before pulling up and knocking down a historic three-pointer.

CG sank one from the top of the arc in transition, becoming the first player in United history to make 600 threes for the club.

Despite this, Melbourne slowed down across the second half of the first term, allowing the JackJumpers to put together a strong run, resulting in a five-point quarter-time deficit.

The JJs remained hot coming out of the first break, pushing their lead out to 10 points before United re-focussed it’s gameplan.

Leaning on JLA and Ariel Hukporti, who combined for 22 of Melbourne’s 44 points, the defending champs charged back into the game.

Punctuating the run was a huge alley-oop slam from the Big-A off a great feed from Brad Newley.

Trailing by one point in the closing seconds of the half, United’s Olympic connection shined, as Delly hit CG on a fantastic backdoor cut to give Melbourne the lead going into the main break.

After Goulding expanded Melbourne’s lead with a three pointer; one of his three in the quarter, to open the second half, United found themselves battling to remain in control of the game.

Playing strong defense, the JJs frustrated the visitors into 22 turnovers, which they turned into 17 points and helped take a slim 65-63 lead into the final term.

Needing a strong performance down the stretch, United did what they do best: locked down on defense.

Melbourne stifled Tassie, allowing just seven points from the JJs, thanks in part to a great game from Jack White.

Playing his usual swiss army knife role, White clamped anyone who went up against him, while saving United possessions on the offensive glass.

With White causing havoc on defense, JLA (19 points, seven rebounds) put the final icing on the win with a big dunk in the closing seconds, capping off a man of the match showing from the big man.

The victory will go down as a historic one, as Melbourne became the first team to ever win a New Year’s Day game on the road, while Head Coach Dean Vickerman became the fifth fastest coach to 150 NBL wins, and CG43 moved in 15th all time in made three pointers.

United will now enjoy an eight day break before their next game, a road contest against the Illawarra Hawks on January 9.

United fans can watch the game live on 10Peach, 10Play, Kao Freebies and ESPN.