It’s one game all in the NBL grand finals series after Adelaide got a 15-point victory on Sunday.
Final score
Adelaide 36ers 110
Melbourne United 95
The finals series continues as the Adelaide 36ers look to take game 2 at home against Melbourne United. Join The Roar at 3pm AEDT for a live blog and scores.
Game 1 was everything we had hoped for plus more, with a seesawing back and forth game between. The opening half was a record-breaking half as for the first time in NBL history a finals series game had 100 points scored between both teams.
The final half of game 1 though showed a completely different Melbourne side who took over and eventually ran away with the game.
Adelaide made a few runs in patches but with Josh Boone dominating on the offensive glass they weren’t able to keep up.
With Adelaide hosting game 2 they will look to come out firing and make up for a lacklustre second half of game 1.
Mitch Creek and Nathan Sobey were good but they will need some more help from the likes of Josh Childress and Shannon Shorter if they are to get back into the series.
Josh Boone looks to be a major thorn for Adelaide and Chris Goulding was on fire from outside the arc in the 3rd quarter, these two things cannot happen if Adelaide are able to get the win.
Casper Ware was off for a large portion of the game with a leg injury but when he was able to come back on Melbourne looked to be a completely different team, and with his scoring abilities they took over and never let up.
Adelaide wants to even the series Melbourne wants to go up 2-0 and have a chance to close it out next week.
Can Adelaide respond in the right way or will Melbourne again dominant late in the game? Who knows right now but one thing is for sure game 2 will be another high scoring entertaining affair.
Prediction
Adelaide won’t want to go down 2-0 and with the home crowd behind them they should be able to even the series up, however they need to get the defensive rebounds.
Adelaide by 1.
Join The Roar at 3pm AEDT for a live blog and scores.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Game over, Adelaide cruise to a 15 point win in game 2 and even up the series. Final scores are 110 to 95. An impressive display from Adelaide from start to finish, as they used their high tempo team to run the United squad off the floor. Majok Deng led Adelaide with 18 points and Casey Prather led Melbourne with 20. Mitch Creek was impressive with 17 points and 9 rebounds as Adelaide were able to control the boards a lot better than in game 1. Foul trouble and an early injury to Josh Boone hindered Melbourne throughout. Josh Childress was injured late with a shoulder injury, whether he and Boone will be able to back up in game 3 will be seen however Boone was able to play after his injury he was struggling with the injury. Game 3 is back in Melbourne and it will be interesting to see how United can bounce back after this game. Thanks for joining me.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Commentators trying to correlate Adelaide winning championships to government control in the state, Interesting point of view i guess. Adelaide 110 Melbourne 95. Kyle Adnam scores for Melbourne shocked they haven't tried to use him more in this game. 10 seconds to play.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Melbourne are trying to extend the game by fouling at every chance. Adelaide 106 Melbourne 91.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Goulding at the free throw line to shoot 2. He misses the first, makes the second. Creek goes coast to coast after the inbound. Adelaide 105 Melbourne 87.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Creek with a slam and Adelaide are up by 17. Childress returns to the bench with a heavily iced arm. Tai Wesley has fouled out. Adelaide 101 Melbourne 84.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
3:30 left to play and Melbourne are down by 17. 99-82.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Prather with a floater in traffic. Adelaide 99 Melbourne 82. 4:11. Melbourne not going away but Adelaide have been able to keep them at arms length.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Ramone Moore scores and gets the and 1 to convert. Adelaide 96 Melbourne 80. 4:54 remains.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Foul trouble is affecting both teams right now, Creek and Ware are both on 4 fouls for their respective teams. Both teams trade 3's as Josh Childress is down hurt. He seems to have hurt his shoulder. Barlow with another triple (his second in a row) and it is back to 13 points. Adelaide 93 Melbourne 80. 5:26 remains.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Sobey with a nice back down on Goulding and he scores 2. Adelaide 90 Melbourne 74. 6:58 remains final quarter.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Here comes Melbourne, Chris Goulding with another 3 and Melbourne have it back to a 14 point lead.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Goulding with 15 points for the game. 17 point lead to Adelaide 88-71.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Goulding with a 3 to get Melbourne started in the final term. Casper Ware fouls out! That is a big loss for Melbourne if they are any chance to get back into the game. Adelaide 86 Melbourne 67. 8:38 4th q.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Final quarter underway and Adelaide get it started with an easy layup. Adelaide 84 Melbourne 64
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Casey Prather scores the final basket of the third quarter. 18 point lead to Melbourne heading into the last quarter. Adelaide 82 Melbourne 64.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Barlow with a 3 pointer and it is back to 18 points again. Adelaide 80 Melbourne 62. 40 seconds remains 3rd quarter.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Andersen spins as he is guarded by the much smaller Moore and he makes the 2. Melbourne with a little run here. Adelaide 78 Melbourne 59. 1:18 to play in the third.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Tai Wesley with 4 fouls and he is off to the bench.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
David Barlow with the 3 for Melbourne. Adelaide 78 Melbourne 54. 3:20 remains 3rd quarter.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Prather to the bench with 3 fouls. Moore is at the line shooting 2, he misses the first makes the second. Adelaide 78 Melbourne 51.