Melbourne United's Cole Anthony and Josh Oduro have turned a four-game winning streak into a serious warning for the rest of the NBL. United beat Brisbane 120–92 at John Cain Arena on Saturday, 7 November, with Anthony scoring 32 points and Oduro delivering 28 points and 14 rebounds. The 28-point margin was emphatic, but the most revealing number was how efficiently the pair got there: 60 points on a combined 24-of-29 shooting.
Anthony made 13 of his 14 field-goal attempts and all six free throws, while adding six assists. Oduro shot 11-of-15 and dominated the matchup with Brisbane centre Tyrell Harrison, who finished with five points, five rebounds and four turnovers on just four shots. That's a particularly damaging combination for an opponent: Melbourne's lead guard was creating and finishing, while its centre was winning the interior contest at both ends. The NBL's official match report confirms their numbers and the final score.
United had Brisbane chasing almost immediately. A 29–17 opening quarter gave Melbourne a 12-point cushion, and the lead reached 23 during the second term. Anthony was already on 16 points by half-time without missing a shot, and Oduro had 13 points and 10 boards. Melbourne led 62–48 at the main break, having established a scoring rhythm that Brisbane couldn't match for long enough.
The Bullets deserve credit for making the third quarter competitive. They hit five threes in the period, scored 25 points and cut the deficit to 83–73 at the final change. That 10-point margin left the door ajar. Melbourne slammed it shut with a 37–19 final quarter, turning a potentially awkward finish into a statement victory. This wasn't simply a hot start preserved until the buzzer; United had another decisive burst when the game tightened.
Tom Wilson's 13 points on six perfect shots, including three threes, gave Melbourne a valuable third scoring option. Malith Machar added 11. Brisbane's Lat Mayen led his side with 15 points off the bench, while Mitch Norton and Nate Hinton scored 13 each. The Bullets had arrived on a two-game winning run, but their attack couldn't keep pace with United's extraordinary efficiency, particularly once Harrison was contained.
There's a clear pattern forming for Jacob Chance's side. Four days earlier, Anthony and Oduro had combined for 38 points, 21 rebounds and six assists against New Zealand. Their production in that 94–74 win helped Melbourne reach three straight victories, as detailed in the league's earlier analysis of United's import partnership. Against Brisbane they increased the scoring volume dramatically without sacrificing shot quality. Anthony's ability to create from the perimeter and Oduro's work near the basket give defenders two very different problems on the same possession.
United improved to 7–5 and next travel to Adelaide to face the 36ers on Thursday, 12 November. Brisbane slipped to 6–6 and face New Zealand away on Friday. Melbourne's early-season unevenness hasn't disappeared from the standings, but four consecutive wins and another dominant closing quarter have changed the conversation. Anthony and Oduro aren't merely putting up attractive individual numbers; they're making United increasingly difficult to defend as a team.
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