Melbourne United were simply dominant in the final match of the NBL Grand Final series, leading throughout to record an 18-point win over Adelaide and clinch their first title.
Final score
Melbourne United 100
Adelaide 36ers 82
It has all come down to this – Melbourne United and the Adelaide 36ers will do battle in game 5 of the NBL Grand Final series to determine who goes home with the title. Join The Roar for live scores from the match, starting from 6pm AEDT.
These have been the best two sides in the competition all season and it’s only fitting that they’ve broken the long-standing domination of the Perth Wildcats and New Zealand Breakers to meet in the grand final series.
To make matters even better though is the fact the series has been such a thriller so far, and has taken us all the way to game five.
Both Melbourne and Adelaide have successfully managed to get the wins in their home games so far, and that would make you think that Melbourne should enter this match as favourites.
But every match of the series so far has been a close-faught affair and it’d be silly to write off Adelaide’s chances of recording an upset win and taking home the title.
Both teams have had to taste bitter disappointment in recent seasons. Melbourne have regularly been touted as a title contender only to to underperform, while Adelaide were last year’s minor premiers but fell short in finals.
The 36ers haven’t claimed the title since 2002, but did play in a losing finals series against the Perth Wildcats in 2014.
For Melbourne United this is their first finals series in franchise history and would of course be their first title win in franchise history. The city hasn’t won a title since the Melbourne Tigers took two out of three in 2006 and 2008.
Prediction
Home sides have won every game so far in this series and while Adelaide will no doubt bring a massive effort, I’d expect that to hold true in the decider.
Melbourne United by 2.
Join The Roar for live scores from the match, starting from 6pm AEDT.
Josh
Expert
GAME OVER! Melbourne United coast to a dominant victory over the Adelaide 36ers, and they are the 2017-18 NBL Champions!
Josh
Expert
Melbourne 14-0 so far in the final quarter and lead by 23. Five minutes to play but the title is surely theirs.
Josh
Expert
Adelaide bring the margin back just a little in the third quarter, and the difference is nine points at the final change. With everything on the line in the last - can the 36ers pull something out of their hats? Or are Melbourne about to win their first NBL title?
Josh
Expert
Adelaide unable to wind in the margin in the second quarter, and Melbourne United lead the decider by 13 points at halftime.
Josh
Expert
Dominant start to this match for Melbourne United who lead by 12 points at the first break.