Melbourne United has gone agonisingly close to pulling off one of the biggest upsets in world basketball, going down to Oklahoma City Thunder by just one point in their historic NBL-NBA clash.
 
Against all expectations, Melbourne pushed the NBA powerhouse to the brink and almost snatched victory in the dying seconds of the game at Chesespeake Energy Stadium in Oklahoma.
 
Trailing by one point, Melbourne’s Josh Boone went to the basket and had his shot blocked by OKC’s Josh Huestis with five seconds on the clock. Then United’s Casey Prather had his driving shot blocked by the same player as the Thunder hung on for the narrowest of wins.

Melbourne earned the respect of the basketball world and helped put the NBL on the map as it took it up to OKC with an aggressive and physical game. Casper Ware starred for Melbourne with nine of his 20 points in the final quarter while Boone had 15 points and nine rebounds, Tai Wesley scored 13 points and Prather 11 points.

After trash talking the Australians before the game, NBA MVP Russell Westbrook was kept to just nine points. Westbrook has scored double digits in 144 consecutive NBA games. Paul George’s 22 points led OKC while Carmelo Anthony scored 19 points and Kiwi superstar Steven Adams 12 points.

NBL Owner and Executive Chairman Larry Kestelman declared after the game that the NBL had arrived as OKC Coach Billy Donovan also heaped praise on Melbourne.

Brisbane Bullets will play Phoenix Suns in the last of the three NBL-NBA games this Saturday at midday AEDT. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN and NBA League Pass.

Click here to download Game Highlights

Click here to download VNR with grabs from Russell Westbrook, Casper Ware, Dean Vickerman, Billy Donovan and Vince Crivelli

Click here to download on-air interview with NBL Executive Director and Owner Larry Kestelman