In a stunning display of offensive firepower, Melbourne United have dismantled the Brisbane Bullets 115-88, solidifying their position near the top of the NBL ladder. The injury-ravaged Bullets, already reeling from the pre-game loss of Josh Bannan to concussion, could only watch helplessly as United’s stars ran rampant on their home court.
Dellavedova’s Offensive Revival Fuels United’s Charge
At the heart of United’s dominant performance was the resurgent Matthew Dellavedova. The former NBA champion has rediscovered his scoring touch in recent weeks, and he wasted no time asserting himself against the hapless Bullets defense. Dellavedova’s early aggression set the tone for what would become a merciless onslaught.
Delly’s been attacking the rim with a vengeance lately. When he’s in that mode, it opens up so much for the rest of the team.
– United head coach Dean Vickerman
Supporting Cast Steps Up
While Dellavedova provided the early spark, it was the contributions of his teammates that truly broke the game open. Sharp-shooting guard Chris Goulding feasted on the open looks created by Dellavedova’s drives, knocking down 4 of his 8 attempts from beyond the arc. Not to be outdone, swingman Jack White soared for several highlight-reel alley-oops as United poured it on in the second half.
- Ian Clark: 24 points
- Chris Goulding: 16 points (4-8 3PT)
- Jack White: 17 points
Bullets’ Bright Spots Amid the Barrage
If there was a silver lining for the Bullets, it was the play of late-season addition Josh Adams. The high-scoring import tallied 23 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists in his most productive outing since joining the club. Fellow import Casey Prather chipped in 15 points, while reserve big man Tohi Smith-Milner battled for 16 points and 8 rebounds off the bench.
Josh [Adams] gave us a real lift out there. You can see he’s starting to find his rhythm within our system. We’ll need more of that as we fight for a playoff spot.
– Bullets interim head coach Sam Mackinnon
The Road Ahead
The win keeps United firmly entrenched in second place on the NBL ladder, just one game back of the league-leading Illawarra Hawks with two regular-season contests remaining. The Bullets, meanwhile, find themselves a game outside the play-in picture, with both Tasmania and Adelaide holding a game in hand.
If they hope to extend their season, the Bullets will need to quickly regroup from this deflating defeat. The imminent return of injured players like Bannan and Keandre Cook should provide some relief, but it will fall on the Bullets’ leader Prather to rally the troops for a final postseason push.
As for United, their focus will be on fine-tuning their high-powered attack ahead of what promises to be a hotly contested title chase. With Dellavedova rounding into form at just the right time and a roster loaded with offensive weapons, United have firmly established themselves as the team to beat heading into the NBL playoffs.
Key Takeaways
- Matthew Dellavedova’s aggressive play is fueling United’s late-season surge
- United’s supporting cast, led by Goulding and White, proved too much for the short-handed Bullets
- Josh Adams was a bright spot for Brisbane in the loss
- The Bullets are running out of time to secure a play-in berth
- United look primed for a deep playoff run with their potent offensive attack
