A three-point basket from new import Casper Ware with two seconds remaining has given Melbourne United a 95-92 upset win over the Sydney Kings in the NBL on Saturday night.
Sydney guard Kevin Lisch tied the match at 92-92 after hitting three free throws with 6.5 seconds to play, before Ware sent the packed house at Hisense Arena into hysterics with a long bomb.
Jason Cadee’s desperate final shot was off the mark to give United their second successive win with Ware in the lineup.
Having handily beaten the home side on their most recent visit to Melbourne, the Kings found themselves in a tight battle from the outset and behind a big night from Brad Newley (29 points), almost sent the match to overtime.
Newley started the match in ominous form with 10 first-quarter points but United punished each of the visitors’ turnovers and David Barlow came off the bench to hit back-to-back triples for a 26-22 lead.
The Kings drew level early in second before Ware stepped up with an assist and five points and David Andersen found his range as United built a 49-34 lead.
But Sydney closed out the half with eight unanswered points, including a deep three in the final seconds from Steve Blake to cut the deficit to seven points at halftime.
After a tight third quarter, Ware hit twice from outside to put United ahead 85-75 with five minutes to play but Lisch and Newley kept the Kings in it before Ware’s last-gasp heroics.
Ware revealed after the match that he was reacting to the defence on the final match-winning play.
"I was getting to the rim pretty well and he (Cadee) was sagging off," said Ware. "He backed off so I shot it."
Quickly becoming a fan favourite, Ware is enjoying his time in Melbourne so far.
"I am loving it," he said. "One of the better crowds I played for around the world.
"The fans ... they love basketball - you can tell the way they're into the game."
Sydney coach Andrew Gaze was disappointed to lose but felt the home side earned the win.
"There was a lot of good things that happened but we've got to acknowledge that our opponents are really, really good," said Gaze.
"They are a very, very talented team. Casper ... clearly can play in the crisis as well with a huge shot."
MELBOURNE 95 (Ware 28, Goulding 15, Wesley 11)
SYDNEY 92 (Newley 29, Powell 14, Lisch 12)
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