Adelaide 36ers produced a composed and efficient offensive performance to beat Melbourne United 101–93 on Thursday, using a decisive third-quarter run and timely perimeter shooting to secure an important National Basketball League victory. The 36ers led for much of the night but had to withstand a late Melbourne charge before closing the game out at the free-throw line.

Match overview

Adelaide opened with good energy, moving the ball side to side and finding open shooters against Melbourne’s help defense. The 36ers led 26–22 after the first quarter and 49–47 at halftime, before blowing the game open with an 11–0 run early in the third. Melbourne responded with a run of their own in the fourth, cutting the deficit to four with just over four minutes remaining, but Adelaide answered with a pair of clutch threes and solid defensive possessions.

The 36ers finished with a strong assist-to-turnover ratio and shot the three-ball well, while Melbourne’s offense relied heavily on individual shot creation. The margin was built on Adelaide’s ability to generate clean looks in transition and their discipline in late-clock situations.

How the game was won

Kendric Davis was the catalyst for Adelaide, finishing with 27 points and nine assists. His penetration repeatedly collapsed Melbourne’s defense, creating open corner threes and easy dump-offs to the big men. Dejan Vasiljevic added 22 points, including six three-pointers, while Isaac Humphries contributed 16 points and 10 rebounds. Melbourne’s Chris Goulding led all scorers with 24 points, and Matthew Dellavedova added 14 points and eight assists, but the visitors could not string together enough stops in the second half.

Adelaide’s defensive game plan focused on crowding Goulding off screens and forcing other Melbourne players to beat them. The strategy worked for long stretches, with Melbourne settling for contested mid-range shots and struggling to generate second-chance points.

Key moments

• Third-quarter surge: Adelaide’s 11–0 run turned a two-point halftime lead into a double-digit advantage.
• Melbourne’s comeback: A 10–2 run in the fourth cut the lead to 88–84 with 4:12 remaining.
• Clutch shooting: Vasiljevic hit a corner three and Davis followed with a step-back jumper to restore a seven-point lead.
• Free-throw execution: Adelaide made 10 of 12 free throws in the final three minutes to close it out.

Standout performers

Davis controlled the pace and made good decisions throughout, while Vasiljevic’s shooting stretched Melbourne’s defense. Humphries was active on the glass and protected the rim. For Melbourne, Goulding fought hard to keep his team in it, and Dellavedova’s playmaking created good looks, but the visitors lacked the same balance Adelaide showed on offense.

Season impact

The win is a significant confidence boost for Adelaide and strengthens their position in the NBL standings. Melbourne will rue a missed opportunity to steal a road game, particularly after cutting the deficit to four in the final minutes. Both teams now face quick turnarounds, with Adelaide looking to build on their offensive rhythm and Melbourne searching for more consistency at the defensive end.