Melbourne break Tasmanian hearts and send series to Game 5
29 Mar
1
min read


Melbourne United held their nerve at Hobart's MyState Bank Arena, with Matthew Dellavedova sinking the deciding shot.
Melbourne United have sent the NBL championship series to a deciding game, with a nail-biting 88-86 win over the Tasmania JackJumpers in enemy territory.
Trailing 2-1 in the best-of-five series, United held their nerve at Hobart's MyState Bank Arena on Thursday night with Matthew Dellavedova sinking the deciding shot with 11 seconds on the clock.
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Dellavedova, a 2016 NBA champion with Cleveland, nailed a lay-up to put Melbourne ahead 87-86.
Tasmania had a possession on the attack in the dying seconds but turned the ball over with United's Ian Clark getting to the free-throw line to seal the deal.
The fifth and deciding game will be held at Melbourne's John Cain Arena on Sunday afternoon.
Tasmania are gunning for their maiden title in just their third season, while United are chasing their second championship success in four competitions.
Clark top-scored for Melbourne with 18 points, while Luke Travers had a lively game with a game-high 11 rebounds and 17 points.
Jack McVeigh was immense for Tasmania with 28 points and seven rebounds after his match-winning effort from beyond the three-point line in game three.
Melbourne took a 67-66 lead into the final quarter in a game where neither side was able to pull away.
Both teams were sloppy in a frantic first term in which Melbourne were just 30 per cent from the field.
Tasmania had a 20-17 lead at quarter time but found themselves behind when Melbourne went on a nine-point run early in the second.
JackJumpers' import Jordon Crawford sunk a three to end United's run before the hosts went on a 10-point run of their own.
McVeigh started strongly and had 18 points by halftime, while teammate Milton Doyle came to life early in the third after a scoreless two quarters.
In a tit-for-tat third period United's Chris Goulding hit crucial back-to-back threes to level at 55-55.
HUNGRY JACK'S NBL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES GAME r
TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 86 (McVeigh 28, Crawford 14, Doyle 14, Macdonald 14)
MELBOURNE UNITED 88 (Clark 18, Goulding 17, Travers 17, Dellavedova 15)
The five-games series is tied at 2-2.

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