Melbourne United were pushed hard by the Cairns Taipans but remained in control and came away with a nine-point win to maintain their undefeated start to the season.
United have five wins on the board in the new NBL season, though the Taipans gave them a run for their money at Hisense Arena.
Chris Goulding set his team up for victory with 13 points in the first term and finished with 26 for the night – a great way for United’s shooting guard to celebrate his birthday.
Final scores
Melbourne United 89
Cairns Taipans 80
Melbourne United have had a flying start to the 2015-16 NBL season and will look to keep that going when they take on the Cairns Taipans tonight. Join The Roar for live scores from 7:30pm (AEDT) for what should be a cracking game.
United are on top of the ladder and are coming off a comprehensive thrashing of the Townsville Crocodiles on Wednesday night at Hisense Arena.
A dominant first quarter set up a very impressive 31-point win over the Crocodiles, 93-62. They also were able to rest key players in the final quarter coming into this big clash against the Taipans. Hakim Warrick played under six minutes, Stephen Holt played just 20 and Todd Blanchfield played 25 minutes.
Daniel Kickert and Holt were the top scorers with 22 and 19 respectively.
The Taipans are sitting on 2-2 and currently in fourth on the ladder after a tough loss on Thursday night to the Adelaide 36ers. They simply struggled to match it with them, which could prove to be cause for concern as the season starts to take shape.
Cameron Gliddon has been the Taipans main scorer so far this season averaging 15.0 points per game with forward Stephen Weigh the next best, grabbing 13 points per game.
United have shown they are the team to beat this year with a very impressive start to the season defeating the Townsville Crocodiles twice already, the Illawarra Hawks and the Adelaide 36ers while the Taipans have had wins against the Hawks and the Crocodiles while losing to the Adelaide 36ers and Sydney Kings on the road in a blow out.
Recent matches between the two sides would indicate a very slight advantage to the Taipans, as they have taken out three of the last five. They also won the last meeting by 22 points, however that was against a very different United team to the one we are seeing this season.
Prediction: United are the form side of the NBL and will win this one against a capable Taipans team at home.
United by 8 points.
Join The Roar for live scores of this clash from 7:30pm (AEDT) on Saturday night and don’t forget to leave a comment if you’re following along.
Chika
Guest
I also like the idea of a conference in Alice costs will be similar for everyone and that seems fair and equitable. ACAL did hold a conference there in 2003 which was outstandingly successful, and another in Darwin in 2010, which had to close off registrations before the event as the numbers registered exceeded the capacity of the venue.
Jason Dowlin
Roar Guru
They have so much depth, they are the team to beat I think
Jason Dowlin
Roar Guru
Game wrap: Melbourne United fought off a fired up Cairns Taipans tonight at Hisense Arena. The game started with a fast paced up and down the floor first quarter with Melbourne getting the edge early leading 31-27 at quarter time. Second quarter and the game changed pace to become a tight tough contest, in a low scoring quarter United out scored the Taipans 15-11 to take a 46-38 lead into the main break. Former United player Mark Worthington told of his displeasure of having to leave United at half time and was trying to ruffle feathers in a physical game. The third quarter got off to a fast start with both teams exchanging blows,United were trying hard to shake the Taipans but Cairns were a tough team to crack and weren't going away, United ended up winning the quarter 22-20 to take a 68-58 lead into the last quarter, the game seemed closer then that margin. The last quarter started with the Taipans dragging the margin back to 5 points half way through the last but United steadied late and a massive turnover created from Chris Goulding helped ice the game for Melbourne. The win takes United to 5-0 in a great start to the season, taking advantage of the block of home games because of Hisense Arena becoming unavailable soon. The Taipans fall to 2-3. Chris Goulding scored 26 points, Holt 19 and Kickert 12 led the scoring for United, while Torrey Craig top scored for Cairns with 18. Final Score: Melbourne United 89 Cairns Taipans 80 Jason Dowlin
Jason Dowlin
Roar Guru
Thank you for joining me tonight. The Roar will be continuing our coverage of the 2015/16 NBL season from tomorrow. Have a great night everyone, game wrap to come. Look forward to bringing you another game next week, follow me on Twitter jased1973. Jason Dowlin
Jason Dowlin
Roar Guru
Great win from Melbourne tonight,getting the job done against a fired up Taipans tonight in front of a great crowd at Hisense Arena in Melbourne. Tomorrow we head to WIN Entertainment Centre for the Illawarra Hawks against the Perth Wildcats. Join The Roar to bring you live scores and updates from 3pm. Matt Gates will walk you thru that game
Jason Dowlin
Roar Guru
Stars for the game tonight: For United. Goulding 26 points,kickert 12 and 8 boards,Warrick 11 pts and 12 rebounds and Blanchfield with 10 points. For taipans. Craig 18 and 10, Gliddon 12 pts and Starks 10 points.
Jason Dowlin
Roar Guru
Melbourne United STARTERS FG REB AS ST BS PTS S. Holt 5-8 0 2 0 0 19 T. Blanchfield 3-9 1 1 0 1 10 D. Kickert (C) 5-12 8 0 0 0 12 M. Majok 1-5 10 1 1 1 4 C. Goulding 10-19 1 3 1 0 26 BENCH FG REB AS ST BS PTS T. Smith-Milner 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 H. Warrick 3-11 12 0 0 0 11 I. Hadziomerovic 1-2 1 1 1 0 3 C. Patton 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 N. Tomlinson 1-3 0 1 1 0 4 K. Adnam 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 B. Hill 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 TEAM TOTALS 29-69 33 9 4 2 89 Coach: Dean Demopoulos Points from Turnovers: 10 Points in the Paint: 30 Assistant: Mike Kelly, Simon Mitchell Second Chance Points: 8 Fast Break Points: 0Cairns Taipans STARTERS FG REB AS ST BS PTS C. Gliddon (C) 5-9 6 3 1 1 12 M. Starks 5-16 4 1 0 0 10 S. Weigh 6-10 5 1 0 0 14 M. Burston 1-1 4 0 0 0 4 M. Worthington 4-13 5 0 0 0 9 BENCH FG REB AS ST BS PTS T. Craig 7-13 10 1 0 2 18 D. Heuir 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 S. Bruce 1-5 2 0 0 0 2 C. Tragardh 4-8 5 1 0 0 9 A. Loughton 1-4 5 0 0 0 2 TEAM TOTALS 34-79 46 7 1 3 80
Jason Dowlin
Roar Guru
Melbourne United are undefeated after 5 games, big plays from Goulding. Taipans come to play tonight and served it up to United.
Jason Dowlin
Roar Guru
Inbound United. Goulding fouled and to the line. Hits one of two. Turnover and Goulding slams a two. Missed shot from taipans. Massive massive turnover from Goulding and wins the game for United . United 89 Taipans 80 Time left: game over
Scott Pryde
Expert
All over now.
Jason Dowlin
Roar Guru
Tomlinson hits one of two. Craig misses three. Out of bounds call. United ball. United 86 Taipans 80 Time left: 33 secs Quarter: 4th
Scott Pryde
Expert
Actually, maybe it isn't over yet.
Jason Dowlin
Roar Guru
Cairns ball. Weigh hits a two. Foul called. Tomlinson on the line. United 85 Taipans 80 Time left:44 Quarter: 4th
Scott Pryde
Expert
Another win for United. Can't work out who is going to stop em! Taipans seem to be really up and down this year. Thanks Jason
Jason Dowlin
Roar Guru
After time out. United ball. Holt is fouled. Free throws for holt. Hits both. United 85 Taipans 78 Time left: 48 secs to go time out Quarter: 4th
Jason Dowlin
Roar Guru
Saturday night special at Hisense
Jason Dowlin
Roar Guru
Craig free throws. Hits the first. Hits the second. United 83 Taipans 78 Time left: 53 secs to go Quarter: 4th
Jason Dowlin
Roar Guru
Kickert hits a two. Craig missed three. Weigh hits a two. Goulding misses three. Goulding is called for foul. United 83 Taipans 76 Time left:1 Quarter: 4th
Jason Dowlin
Roar Guru
Warrick hits both . Taipans down the floor. Starks hits a two. Goulding missed three. Craig hits a massssssive threeeeeeeeeeee. United 81 Taipans 74 Time left: 1 Quarter: 4th
Jason Dowlin
Roar Guru
Taipans ball from a time out. Need to go now . Great crowd in tonight at Hisense . Missed from Gliddon. Worthington travel. Warrick fouled. Will shoot free throws. United 79 Taipans 69 Time left: 2 Quarter: 4th