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IN Game 3, Melbourne lost the "unlosable" but last night in Game 4 of the NBL Championship in Hobart, Tasmania returned the favour as Jo Lual-Acuil stole an inbounds pass meant for a cutting Majok Deng, ensuring this enthralling Grand Final would go to a decider, United winning 88-86.

Fans at the sold-out MyState Bank Arena sat mesmerised as JackJumpers coach Scott Roth called his final time-out with 7.2 seconds left on the clock after Matthew Dellavedova's drive to the hoop gave Melbourne an 87-86 lead.

That followed a Dean Vickerman time-out at 16.6, the United championship coach choosing to take the ball from the baseline rather than advance it and lose 2.6 seconds.

When Dellavedova got up his full head of steam to lay it in under pressure, it still appeared he went too soon, giving Roth the chance to devise a potential match-saving play.

Under normal circumstances, Sean MacDonald's inbounds pass to Deng as he rolled toward the hoop would have worked for the easy lay-up. Deng had the curl on Lual-Acuil but neither Jackie allowed for the Melbourne centre's wingspan.

Even caught behind on the roll, Lual-Acuil's length and athleticism allowed him to reach around and pick off the pass, hand the ball to Ian Clark who was immediately fouled.

Clark sank his first free throw, his second astray, Will Magnay seizing the defensive board. The JJs quickly found Game 3 match-winner Jack McVeigh for another possible long-range save.

But with the clock expiring, McVeigh did not have quite the same amount of time to find his composure, this time the shot (below) a tad more rushed and rimming out, much to United's relief.

It was a bitter blow for the Ants, who led 86-81 on a Deng turnaround jumper but had most of their troops running on empty and unable to convert multiple reasonable looks to put United away.

A pair of last quarter threes by Chris Goulding, a triple from Luke Travers and one from Dellavedova meant United was continuing to run this out as key JackJumpers started to hit the fatigue wall.

Contrary to public opinion, this was Dellavedova's best game, choosing to get the ball to teammates rather than play hero-ball by himself.

It worked a treat, with Clark thriving and allowing Melbourne in the first half to maintain pace with Tasmania, which had McVeigh offensively on a streak that defied description.

Either driving past his sometime nemesis Travers, pulling up to hit bombs or posting up, McVeigh was in a league of his own en route to 28 points, Jordon Crawford also firing and MacDonald a weapon.

But with United sharing the ball and Shea Ili providing that unrelenting hustle that rarely shows up in the boxscore, Lual-Acuil also again perfect from the floor, Melbourne was able to sustain its pressure.

The absence of Marcus Lee (knee) unbalanced Tasmania's rotation, Fabijan Krslovic missing three great early wide open 3-point looks and Milton Doyle unable to consistently produce his A-game.

Dellavedova scored nine of his 15 points in the final period, Tasmania unable to defend his drive to the key floater or step-back. Maybe more importantly, he was more prepared to give the ball up, Clark, Goulding and Travers more active offensively no coincidence.

Clark at times definitely looked an NBA champion.

The momentum now definitely swings back to United, at home on Sunday in the decider. 

NBL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES (Best-of-5 Grand Final)

Game 4: MELBOURNE UNITED 88 (Clark 18, Travers, Goulding 17, Dellavedova 15, Lual-Acuil 11; Travers 11 rebs; Dellavedova 6 assts) d TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 86 (McVeigh 28, MacDonald, Crawford, Doyle 14; Drmic 8 rebs; Drmic, Doyle 3 assts) at MyState Bank Arena. Crowd: 4,340

Game 3: TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 93 (McVeigh 18, Deng 15, Crawford, Doyle 14, MacDonald 13; McVeigh 12 rebs; Doyle 7 assts) d MELBOURNE UNITED 91 (Dellavedova 21, Goulding 17, Travers 14, Ili 11; Hukporti 9 rebs; Dellavedova 8 assts) at John Cain Arena. Crowd: 10,175

Game 2: TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 82 (McVeigh 16, MacDonald, Crawford, Doyle 13; Doyle 10 rebs; Crawford, McVeigh 4 assts) d MELBOURNE UNITED 77 (Ili 20, Goulding 19, Lual-Acuil 9; Lual-Acuil 11 rebs; Dellavedova 7 assts) at MyState Bank Arena. Crowd: 4,340

Game 1: MELBOURNE UNITED 104 (Goulding 22, Lual-Acuil 20, Clark 18, Dellavedova 11; Lual-Acuil 11 rebs; Dellavedova 6 assts) d TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 81 (Drmic 18, Doyle 16, McVeigh 13, Magnay 10; Doyle 8 rebs; MacDonald, McVeigh 3 assts) at John Cain Arena. Crowd: 9,108

Series tied 2-2. Game 5 decider Sunday in Melbourne