United were dealt a savage blow during the pre-game warm-ups at John Cain Arena when Goulding,in discomfort at shootaround in the morning,aggravated a calf injury he first nickedin the game two loss in Tasmania on Saturday. Without their captain and arguably the league’s most dangerous perimeter threat,United fell apart and lost 76-73.
The JackJumpers were expected to finish at,or near,the foot of the ladder in their debut season,but American coach Scott Roth recruited a squad built on a grinding,scrambling defence and a patient offence and are now the first expansion side since Geelong in 1982 to reach the grand final in their maiden season.
They were able to slow the pace after a run-and-gun first quarter and were brilliantly led by the hot hand of American import Josh Adams,who poured in a game high 30 points on 10-22 shooting from the floor,including a defining three-pointer from the corner to give his side a 74-68 lead with just over a minute remaining.
“He hadn’t played that well in the first two games - he saved the best for last,” Roth said of Adams.
Added Adams:“We are on top of the world ... we will try to keep it stable for Sydney.”
Jack McVeigh (16) also consistently hit big shots,while Josh Magette (9),another American guard,splashed a crucial three to stretch the lead to five late in the fourth quarter.