DrinkWise Preview: NBL25 - Round 5 v South East Melbourne Phoenix

After registering one of the biggest wins of the season against the Adelaide 36ers last week, Melbourne United are back at John Cain Arena for a huge Throwdown clash as part of The Multicultural Game.

This is a chance for basketball fans from across the state to come together and celebrate the diversity of our city through basketball.

Matched up against the Phoenix, United will be looking to extend their Throwdown winning streak to seven straight games.

For South East Melbourne, they head into the contest searching for a form reversal, having lost their opening five games of the season and changed their head coach.

LISTEN TO DEAN VICKERMAN AND JACK WHITE PREVIEW THE ROUND HERE

WHO’S HOT, WHO’S NOT

(Past five games)

United - W, L, W, L, W

Phoenix - L, L, L, L, L

After falling flat against Cairns, Melbourne United looked like an entirely different team in Round 4, dominating the 36ers on both ends to come away with the 27-point win.

The lockdown defensive effort was especially impressive, as Dean Vickerman’s squad registered their fifth game holding opponents to under 85 points this season.

This defensive effort often allows United to control the glass, which is an area the Phoenix have struggled with across their slow start to the season.

SEM have been out-rebounded in every game; an area which most notably last week led to their downfall.

STARS COLLIDE

One thing both teams can hang their hat on leading into Sunday is elite guard play, with Derrick Walton Jr and Matthew Dellavedova registering as two of the league’s leading playmakers.

‘Delly’ has picked up right where he left off last season to start NBL25, averaging career-highs in scoring, assists and rebounds, while also shooting the ball at the highest percentage of his three seasons with Melbourne.

Conversely, one year removed from his All-NBL First Team selection, Walton Jr has struggled to get going in a Phoenix uniform.

So far this season the American guard has seen decreases in his shooting efficiency, but is coming off his best game of the season; a 19-point, five assist performance against Brisbane.

GAME INFO

Who: Melbourne United vs South East Melbourne Phoenix

Tip-off: 2:30pm AEDT, Sunday 20 October, 2024

Where: John Cain Arena, Melbourne

Watch: 10 BOLD and ESPN via Kayo

Tickets: SOLD OUT