Melbourne United beat Tasmania Jackjumpers 88-86 in Hobart to keep their NBL championship series alive.
The win levels the best-of-five series at 2-2.
Game five will be Sunday at Melbourne’s John Cain Arena.
The Jackjumpers had the opportunity to win their first title in their third season in the league.
They took the lead in the last minute, but United took the lead with seven seconds left. Jack McVeigh’s last-second shot missed from midfield.
The Jackjumpers reached the NBL championship series in their first season in 2022, but lost 3-0 to the Sydney Kings.
Ian Clark was Melbourne’s leading scorer with 18 points, while Luke Travers had a spirited game with 11 rebounds and a game-high 17 points.
McVeigh was immense for Tasmania with 28 points and seven rebounds after his winning effort from beyond the three-point line in game three.
Melbourne took a 67-66 lead into the final quarter in a game in which neither side could escape.
Both teams were sloppy in a frenetic first season in which Melbourne were only 30 per cent on the field.
Tasmania had a 20-17 lead in the fourth but found themselves behind when Melbourne went on a nine-point run early in the second.
JackJumpers import Jordon Crawford scored a three-pointer to end United’s run before the hosts went on a 10-point run of their own.
McVeigh started strong and scored 18 points by halftime, while teammate Milton Doyle came to life early in the third after two scoreless quarters.
In a tit-for-tat third period, United’s Chris Goulding hit back-to-back crucial 3-pointers to tie the score at 55-55.
ABC/AAP
