A standout efficiency from import Rayjon Tucker has impressed Melbourne United to a morale-boosting 92-76 NBL victory over crosstown rivals South East Melbourne Phoenix.
Tucker lit up John Cain Arena on Thursday evening by gliding his approach by means of the Phoenix defence for a career-best 33-point haul as United bounced again from a demoralising loss in Perth to chalk up their seventh win of the season.
Facing the prospect of an unprecedented third successive defeat within the Throwdown conflict, United put their current woes behind them by profitable each quarter and holding South East Melbourne to their lowest rating from the 4 derby conferences this season.
The Phoenix had no reply for the energy and athleticism of Tucker, United’s American-born ahead setting a brand new excessive mark for factors scored by a single participant within the historical past of the all-Victorian conflict.
“I just took what the defence gave me, my teammates told me to keep going and that’s exactly what I did,” Tucker advised ESPN after making 11-of-15 pictures, together with 4-of-5 three-pointers, in his match-winning effort.
Stuck in eighth spot on the ladder after dropping six of their previous seven video games, Tucker remained bullish about United’s probabilities of launching a late-season cost in the direction of a spot within the Play-in Tournament and a possible semi-final berth.
“We have a lot of confidence in this squad. This is the first time we’ve had a whole group together in the last couple of games so we feel good about this and we want to keep it rolling,” Tucker mentioned as United put together to host the bottom-placed Illawarra Hawks on Sunday.
South East Melbourne utilized some early strain with Alan Williams triggering an 8-2 begin however Melbourne clamped down on defence and Tucker was rewarded for his assault on the basket with 11 factors as United closed the opening quarter forward 21-14.
Melbourne’s defence continued to do the job within the second quarter, holding the Phoenix to 6-of-28 capturing at one stage, whereas Tucker capped a dynamic first-half exhibiting by throwing down a robust alley-oop dunk over Mitch Creek to place United up 47-36 on the most important break.
The Phoenix tried to rally within the second half however United ensured there can be no repeat of Monday evening’s collapse towards the Perth Wildcats the place they gave up a 14-point result in lose within the dying seconds.
Double-doubles for Creek (22 factors, 10 rebounds) and Williams (15 factors, 12 rebounds) saved South East Melbourne aggressive whereas Gary Browne and Trey Kell III every added 16 factors.
The end result introduced the Phoenix’s three-game profitable streak to an finish however they continue to be in fourth spot on the ladder with a 10-7 document and face the top-ranked Sydney Kings on the Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium on Sunday.
