A standout performance from import Rayjon Tucker has inspired Melbourne United to a morale-boosting 92-76 NBL victory over crosstown rivals South East Melbourne Phoenix.
Tucker lit up John Cain Arena on Thursday night by gliding his way through the Phoenix defence for a career-best 33-point haul as United bounced back from a demoralising loss in Perth to chalk up their seventh win of the season.
Facing the prospect of an unprecedented third successive defeat in the Throwdown clash, United put their recent woes behind them by winning every quarter and holding South East Melbourne to their lowest score from the four derby meetings this season.
The Phoenix had no answer for the strength and athleticism of Tucker, United's American-born forward setting a new high mark for points scored by a single player in the history of the all-Victorian clash.
"I just took what the defence gave me, my teammates told me to keep going and that's exactly what I did," Tucker told ESPN after making 11-of-15 shots, including 4-of-5 three-pointers, in his match-winning effort.
Stuck in eighth spot on the ladder after losing six of their past seven games, Tucker remained bullish about United's chances of launching a late-season charge towards a spot in the Play-in Tournament and a potential semi-final berth.
"We have a lot of confidence in this squad. This is the first time we've had a whole group together in the last couple of games so we feel good about this and we want to keep it rolling," Tucker said as United prepare to host the bottom-placed Illawarra Hawks on Sunday.
South East Melbourne applied some early pressure with Alan Williams triggering an 8-2 start but Melbourne clamped down on defence and Tucker was rewarded for his attack on the basket with 11 points as United closed the opening quarter ahead 21-14.
Melbourne's defence continued to do the job in the second quarter, holding the Phoenix to 6-of-28 shooting at one stage, while Tucker capped a dynamic first-half showing by throwing down a strong alley-oop dunk over Mitch Creek to put United up 47-36 at the main break.
The Phoenix tried to rally in the second half but United ensured there would be no repeat of Monday night's collapse against the Perth Wildcats where they gave up a 14-point lead to lose in the dying seconds.
Double-doubles for Creek (22 points, 10 rebounds) and Williams (15 points, 12 rebounds) kept South East Melbourne competitive while Gary Browne and Trey Kell III each added 16 points.
The result brought the Phoenix's three-game winning streak to an end but they remain in fourth spot on the ladder with a 10-7 record and face the top-ranked Sydney Kings at the Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium on Sunday.
