NBL Finals Game Five Recap
John Cain Arena in Melbourne was the venue for the final game of what has been a massively exciting NBL Finals series.
10,175 strong packed out the arena in what was a complete sell out. The crowd was heavily in favour of the local Melbourne United side, but the JackJumpers did not seem fazed.
As was the case with the whole series aside from game one, game five was a back-and-forth affair and came down to the final possession.
It was the host Melbourne united side that started off with the upper hand, taking a 4-0 lead early and turning it into a more significant 16-6 lead by midway through the first frame.
The JackJumpers were on their heels but did not allow the game to get away from them, staying within striking distance at every step along the way. They cut the lead to 24-18 with three minutes left in the opening quarter and found themselves within two with just one minute left.
A tough Chris Goulding three-pointer for Melbourne at the end of the quarter gave Melbourne United a 31-26 lead.
Melbourne held on to their slight lead throughout the quarter as seemingly every time Tasmania got a shot to fall, Melbourne would come back right away and make a bucket of their own.
The JackJumper’s worked their deficit to just one near the six-minute mark but again Melbourne was quickly able to restore a five-point margin.
It wasn’t until only two minutes remained in the quarter that Tasmania was able to find their first lead of the game at 43-42.
Predictably, given how the series went up to that point, the first half finished with the two teams tied at 44.
The second half had a very similar story. The two teams came out of the dressing rooms and traded baskets on each of their opening possessions.
By the five-minute mark, Melbourne had built a seven-point lead but as was the theme throughout the day, Tasmania would not let them pull away.
They cut the lead to three with three minutes remaining in the quarter and by the end of the third Melbourne led by four.
The beginning of the fourth quarter went similarly to the rest of the game, shots made back-and-forth, but Melbourne always with the upper hand.
Then, with five minutes to go, the JackJumpers tied it up at 73 and shortly after took a two-point lead. They worked this to a four-point lead then Melbourne moved within one with 47 seconds left.
A floater and a layup from the Jack Jumpers again stretched the lead to five before a ridiculous fadeaway three by Chris Goulding moved Melbourne back within two with just six seconds left.
After calling a timeout, all Tasmania had to do was inbound the ball and make free throws for the championship. They couldn’t get the ball in however as Goulding came up with a steal and the ball came to Matthew Dellavedova.
The former NBA Champion dribbled to half court before chucking up what would have been a game winner only to miss left as Tasmania held on for the win.
Jordon Crawford Comes Up Huge for the JackJumpers
Jordon Crawford poured in a season high 32 points, including 20 in the first quarter to help lead the JackJumpers to their first title.
Championship MVP Jack McVeigh added 14 of his own to complete the JackJumpers’ magical season.
