Ware shines as Melbourne goes one up on Kiwis in NBL finals

IMPORT Casper Ware inspired Melbourne United to an 88-77 semi-final win over New Zealand Breakers last night.

Ware scored 33 points to lead Melbourne to their first playoff win under the United brand and take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.

The all-NBL first-team selection scored 13 points in the third quarter as Melbourne outscored the Breakers 24-18 for a matchwinning lead.

The visitors absorbed United’s early pressure and restricted the home side to 33 per cent shooting in the first quar- ter but Casey Prather scored eight points in the second term and Ware took over in the second half to leave the minor premiers one win away from a grand final berth.

Prather finished with 15 points for the home side and Tai Wesley added 13. DJ New- bill led New Zealand with 19 points while Shea Ili had 16 points and five assists.

Melbourne scored the first six points of the game with Wesley attacking the basket and Ware drawing a foul from Edgar Sosa and converting the four-point play.

The lead extended to seven points but United’s offence stalled and with Ili grabbing eight points after coming off the bench, the Breakers ended the first quarter with a 24-21 advantage.

United struck back with Prather opening the second quarter with five straight points, his last-second triple levelling the match 43-all at halftime.

The home side took a 67-61 lead into the final quarter and Ware kept finding ways to score as the home side closed out the contest.