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Toronto Raptors vs Melbourne United: NBLxNBA live scores

Josh Boone of United during the NBL semi-finals match against the New Zealand Breakers (AAP Image/David Rowland)
Expert
5th October, 2018
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LIVE SCORES

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Toronto Raptors vs Melbourne United

NBLxNBA 2018, Game 5. Time: Fulltime

Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Canada
Toronto Raptors Melbourne United
120/span> SCORE 82
23 Q1 17
34 Q2 22
44 Q3 19
19 Q4 24

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Melbourne United will be looking to improve on their first NBLxNBA performance when they get a second opportunity against the Toronto Raptors in Canada. Join The Roar for live scores from 9am (AEST).

United come into this game having pushed the Philadelphia 76ers last week, yet, in the same breath, not actually getting all that close by the time it was all said and done.

The injury to Chris Goulding certainly hurt them through the second half as the Eastern Conference semi-finalists led by Aussie Ben Simmons and big man Joel Embiid kicked away, but United were never going to win from the moment they started falling behind in the first quarter.

In all of these NBLxNBA games, of which there has now been seven last year’s three were to be included, the first five or six minutes has generally been the most troublesome of those teams who had the ability to make it competitive.

Already this year, both Melbourne and Sydney, as well as the same two teams last year, were very good for all but the first part of the contest, where they found themselves behind and without the momentum.

Most teams have been able to hold their own somewhat after those initial runs, but if United are to win this, a fast start is critical.

They will put themselves into something of a position to do that as well, given the club have been in the States for a week since their loss to Philadelphia and now have a chance to try and come out of the blocks quickly instead of dealing with shell-shock and jet-lag.

Chris Goudling’s fitness is unclear though after he went down with a knee injury against Philly, while the club may struggle to compete in the paint. Kawhi Leonard is one of the game’s best defensive players, so if Melbourne are to win, they need to stretch the floor and find space for Goulding and the sharp-shooting Casper Ware.

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Toronto will be looking to picked up their second win of the pre-season after mixed results so far. A win over the Portland Trail Blazers was good, but it was evident against Utah in a 15-point loss that combinations are still building between Leonard, Serge Ibaka and guard Kyle Lowry.

Prediction
Toronto should pick up the win, but they won’t have this all their own way – far from it.

Raptors by 7.

Be sure to join The Roar for live scores of this fifth NBLxNBA game from 9am (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.

Gameinfo

Tip-off: 9am (AEST)
Venue: Air Canada Centre, Toronto
TV: Live, ESPN
Betting: Raptors $1.05, United $17

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