NBL Grand Final series, game 2: Melbourne United v Tasmania JackJumpers
Milton Doyle grabbed a double-double and Jack McVeigh had another big night as the JackJumpers came from behind to square the NBL Grand Final series.
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The JackJumpers’ NBL title hopes are alive and kicking after a miracle comeback against Melbourne United in game two of the grand final series in a heart-stopping win at MyState Bank Arena on Friday night.
The Jackies were forced to regain their composure several times as United ruled the floor for most of the game but driven by a raucous sell-out 4340 home crowd, the green machine rolled right over Melbourne to level the books in the play-off series with the 82-77 win.
JJs star Jack McVeigh lifted the team onto his shoulders and drove it to victory with his team-high 16 points and influence from one end of the court to the other.
The Jackies restricted Melbourne to 33 points in the second half and skipper Clint Steindl said the team trusted in itself and that got it over the line.
“We just made a series of it,” Steindl said.
“It was a bit dicey in the third quarter but we stuck at it and got the job done.”
Jordon Crawford got the party started for the home team with matching threes and teammate Marcus Lee’s shoulder injury from game one was no issue as he posted his first points from a hard-won foul.
Crawford’s hot start included 13 points until he was replaced by Steindl with two minutes left in the first.
The Jackies led by a straight shot at the first break, then Melbourne opened strongly in the second.
When towering forward Jo Lual-Acuil made it 28-23, memories of game one’s second-quarter Melbourne blitz must have crossed the mind of JJs coach Scott Roth.
The Jackies responded with their trademark defence cutting off United’s supply and Marcus Lee’s mid-quarter slam dunk regained the lead and approving fans blew the roof off.
On the back of Tasmanian-born guard Chris Goulding, United pulled away again but 1.3s before the half Lual-Acuil was pinged for an unsportsmanlike foul on JJs hero Jack McVeigh to become enemy No. 1 with the crowd.
It didn’t matter that it was over-ruled after a replay and Melbourne went to the break 44-40 despite superstar Matthew Dellavedova only having two points to his name while Crawford went scoreless in the second.
The title hopefuls were level on defensive rebounds (17 apiece), equally inaccurate shooting from the floor at 43 per cent but Melbourne’s three shots (44 per cent versus 38) made the difference.
Led by Goulding (18 points to that stage) and Shae Ili (14 points), United poured on the pressure in the third, shooting 11-3 in the first half of it to lead by 12.
Tasmania came again reducing it 66-63 but a statement fourth quarter got the Jackies home.
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Originally published as NBL Grand Final series, game 2: Melbourne United v Tasmania JackJumpers
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