NBL 2023: Injury-ravaged Melbourne United shock South East Melbourne Phoenix

Crippled by injuries to several key stars, Melbourne United proved they are the team to beat after a gutsy 92-83 win over crosstown rivals SEM Phoenix in the Throwdown.

Undermanned but undeterred, Melbourne United has flashed its championship credentials with a gutsy 92-83 win over crosstown rivals South East Melbourne Phoenix in the Throwdown at John Cain Arena on Sunday.

Playing without the injured Matthew Dellavedova, Ian Clark and Luke Travers, United found a way to grind out a ninth win from 11 games to extend their advantage at the top of the NBL ladder.

When you have the shooting of Chris Goulding at your disposal, you are always a threat.

Goulding finished with a game-high 27 points, getting off the leash at crucial times when the Phoenix threatened in the second half.

Jo Lual-Acuil Jr eventually won the big man battle for United as Phoenix centre Alan Williams fouled out with 1.53 left in the game.

Lual-Acuil Jr was more dominant the longer the game wore on, finishing with 26 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks.

"Didn't ever look like missing" 🥶

Chris Goulding is outrageous 😮‍💨

Catch the action live on ESPN via Kayo Freebies | 10 Peach and 10 Play 📺 pic.twitter.com/YlINS1nMk3

— NBL (@NBL) November 12, 2023

The 29-year-old’s strong play in the crunch is limiting the minutes afforded to Ariel Hukporti, who was huge for United earlier in the season.

The pace of play was up in a breathtaking first half.

Despite leaving seven points at the free throw line, United took a two-point advantage into halftime on the back of six late second quarter points from forward Rob Loe.

The highlight reel was bursting in the first half.

None better than Williams’ impersonation of an NFL quarterback.

Williams launched a three-quarter court pass to assist Gary Browne on a basket that had the Phoenix fans jumping out of their seats.

We've got some absolute sporting royalty watching on today at John Cain Arena 👑@SEMelbPhoenix ownership pair and international superstars Nick Kyrgios and John Wall have been drinking in the Throwdown action 🎾🏀 pic.twitter.com/iGUyE1nTps

— NBL (@NBL) November 12, 2023

CHEEKY JO

The big man battle was a game within the game with Lual-Acuil Jr providing a huge presence for United.

Lual-Acuil Jr had 13 points at the half and a block on Phoenix guard Ben Ayre that landed in row B.

Saying not in my house, Lual-Acuil Jr enjoyed a nice moment with Ayre, who smiled after Lual-Acuil Jr gave him a cheeky slap on the face, which was all in good fun.

IN LIKE FLYNN

United’s ability to delve deep into its depth chart and roll out Flynn Cameron is a luxury that most teams don’t have.

Cameron relished the expanded role, draining three first half three pointers as part of his 14-point game.

His energy was crucial for a team that was missing Dellavedova and Clark.

Jo Lual-Acuil Jr proved a huge presence in the paint. Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty Images

CREEK FADES

Mitch Creek lit up the fire pit in the first half, leading all scorers with 14 at the half, but he faded after half time with 19 for the game.

With his side trailing early in the third, Chris Goulding came to life for United and all of a sudden a deficit turned into a nine-point lead.

Craig Moller showed his range for the Phoenix with two huge threes and the Phoenix were back on level terms at 65-apiece after Browne drained three from the stripe.

The Phoenix’s defensive intensity lifted but not sufficiently enough to stop Goulding from hitting a third three for the period and take a one-point lead into the fourth.

Lual-Acuil Jr bullied his way to the basket three times early in the fourth as United took control.

DJ returns

Veteran Daniel Johnson was back in Melbourne for the first time since 2010 after signing with the Phoenix.

The 35-year-old got his start in the NBL with the Melbourne Tigers before spending 13 seasons with the Adelaide 36ers.

Johnson added to the Phoenix’s big man depth as an injury replacement player for Gorjok Gak.

MELBOURNE DIVIDED AS INJURY-CRISIS DECIMATES UNITED

- Michael Randall

Melbourne United has been forced to make sweeping changes to its top-of-the-NBL-table line-up for the blockbuster cross-town clash with South East Melbourne.

Olympic bronze medal guard Matthew Dellavedova (calf), Cleveland Cavaliers draft pick Luke Travers (concussion) and NBA champion import Ian Clark (hamstring) have all been ruled out for Sunday’s sold out Throwdown at John Cain Arena.

Young centre Ariel Hukporti (knee) will play, but isn’t at 100 per cent, paving the way for star big man Jo Lual-Acuil Jr to make his first start since wrist surgery delayed his United comeback, following a season in China.

Coach Dean Vickerman is relishing the challenge of shuffling the decks to find a makeshift rotation that works, with Tanner Krebs and Kyle Bowen likely to join the starting five and United to lean heavily on point guard Shea Ili to initiate the bulk of its offence.

The battle for Melbourne is about to ignite — Phoenix stars Allan Williams and Mitch Creek with United’s Shea Ili and Tanner Krebs. Picture: Wayne Taylor

Rookie point guard Flynn Cameron will also get a chance to show his potential running the United attack while Ili rests, while Vickerman is set to unleash a three-headed monster of Lual-Acuil Jr, Hukporti and injury replacement centre Rob Loe to combat Phoenix heavy hauler Alan Williams and new arrival Daniel Johnson.

Code Sports understands Hukporti (213cm) and Loe (211cm) will play stretches together, presenting a unique challenge at both ends. The Kiwi stalwart, initially convinced to come out of retirement while Lual-Acuil Jr recovered from his injury, is a knockdown three-point shooter and a load around the basket. But he will need to rely on all his smarts — and plenty of help — to keep tabs on smaller and more mobile Phoenix superstar Mitch Creek.

Galvanised United group. Only unbeaten team away from ‘home’ this season. SEM only unbeaten team at home. Travers & Delly didn’t practice, Clark got shots up. Those 3 won’t play.
Ili, Goulding, Krebs, Bowen, JLA in 1st team. Loe, Newley, Hukporti, Cameron, Blogg/Machar in 2nd. pic.twitter.com/1vebMJI6u9

— Michael Randall (@MickRandallHS) November 11, 2023

Relentless defenders Dellavedova and Ili held Perth superstar Bryce Cotton to 5/17 shooting in last week’s overtime loss and, without the former and the long and athletic Travers, United will have a big task on its hands to contain Phoenix scoring guards Gary Browne and Will Cummings.

The absence of Travers (G-F, $266,100) is a huge blow for NBL SuperCoaches, too, given he is the most-owned player in the game at nearly 50 per cent.

Bring on Sunday’s Throwdown between Melbourne United and SEM Phoenix. Picture: Wayne Taylor

The highly-anticipated rivalry between two teams which, at least on the surface, share a healthy dislike, represents a fascinating game of chess between Vickerman and former understudy Mike Kelly who, with ex-Adelaide 36er Johnson arriving as an injury replacement for Gorjok Gak, has a full squad at his disposal.

Kelly said regardless of United’s make-up, he is hyper-focused on how his squad presents itself and handles the strategic uncertainty of the opposition.

“As much as you traditionally prepare for another team and scout another team, their players and what they run but, getting our whole group back apart from Gorjok, we’ve focused on us and how to play as a team and get a bit better on the defensive end every game and I think that’s what we’ll do again, against United,” Kelly said.

***South East Melbourne Phoenix v Melbourne United, Sunday, 2pm, John Cain Arena. Watch on Kayo Sports and ESPN.

Originally published as NBL 2023: Injury-ravaged Melbourne United shock South East Melbourne Phoenix