Melbourne United new Americans stars , Stephen Holt and Hakim Warrick, threw down the gauntlet as arguably the NBL’s best new import combination in a 106-99 win over Illawarra.
And Adelaide 36ers centre Daniel Johnson again showed his full offensive arsenal as the Sixers saw off Sydney 95-84 in the late game.
In an entertaining good old-fashioned shoot-out, Holt led Melbourne with a pre-season Blitz tournament high 27 points, which included a withering seven-of-nine three-pointers.
NBA workhorse Warrick, secured at the weekend when Ekene Ibekwe was released to join his partner in Europe for the birth of their first child, was eased into the fray and just saw 13 minutes on the Townsville RSL Stadium hardwood.
But it was enough.
The NBA dunking-fiend threw down thundering slams on consecutive plays and was an immediately intimidating keyway spectre.
Returning Boomer Chris Goulding also showed off his repertoire with his 17 points at 50 per cent, some of his shots coming after wickedly embarrassing defenders.
United shot 56 per cent from the floor and 55 per cent from beyond the arc, connecting on 18-of-33 long range missiles, also unearthing another significant new player in guard Igor Hadziomerovic.
Illawarra, however, did not crumble under the bombardment, sticking 14-of-30 from range, Tim Coenraad’s 26 points at 56 per cent and his scud missiles at 63 per cent.
“We want to play entertaining basketball,” Hawks coach Rob Beveridge said.
Considering he didn’t play his two previous NBL MVPs, Kevin Lisch (calf) or Kirk Penney (hamstring), his Hawks crew certainly met his assessment, A.J. Ogilvy (19 points, two blocks) taking it hard at Melbourne’s bigs in the best game of the Blitz so far.
The 36ers’ showdown followed much the same blueprint with Adelaide pulling away and Sydney staying in contention behind Marcus Thornton’s 24-point haul.
“He definitely can do a few more things,” 36ers coach Joey Wright said of Johnson.
“His decision-making off the dribble and his range have improved.”
MELBOURNE UNITED 106 (Holt 27, Goulding 17, Kickert 15, Blanchfield 13, Hadziomerovic 10; Blanchfield 7 rebs; Holt, Hadziomerovic 5 assts) dILLAWARRA HAWKS 99 (Coenraad 26, Ogilvy 19, Martin 17, Forman 10; Coenraad 6 rebs; Martin 5 assts).
Premiership Points: Melbourne 5.5, Illawarra 1.5
ADELAIDE 36ERS 95 (Johnson 26, McNeaill 19, Creek 18; Hodgson 8 rebs; Gibson 6 assts) d SYDNEY KINGS 84 (Thornton 24, Cadee 14, Khazzouh 10; Hill 11 rebs; Thornton 5 assts).
Premiership Points: Adelaide 4.5, Sydney 2.5
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