Basketball On The Internet.

NBL tipsters experienced a nightmare NBL Round 5, with only league-leading Melbourne United fulfilling expectations, Chris Goulding alight for 33 points against Illawarra, and Brisbane closing the weekend with an upset over Tasmania.

Nathan Sobey, who started the match with two fouls in its first 100 seconds, finished with 28 as the Bullets weathered a JackJumpers fightback and survived potential overtime when Jordan Crawford's 3-ball to force the extension narrowly missed.

The other good news for the league was the continued improvements at Illawarra, the Hawks starting the round by upsetting Cairns and yesterday leading United by as many as 10 points before succumbing, the final margin deceptive and not reflective of their performance.

Gary Clark continued his underrated form with 24 points at 52 per cent, Justin Robinson pairing 20 points at 53 per cent with a game-high nine assists.

It was mainly Goulding, whose 33 points at 61 per cent included no less than seven 3-point makes, who insisted United would not be upset at home.

Tanner Krebs, in the prolonged absence of Matthew Dellavedova (concussion protocols), also produced his best game as a Melbournite, his 14 points at 54 per cent and four assists big keys to the home team's success.

Shea Ili added a season-high 17 points as United's 25-15 final quarter inflated the final scoreline. The foul count - 13 against Melbourne, 27 against Illawarra - was substantial, especially down the stretch when you could have been forgiven for thinking there was a point spread issue. 

MELBOURNE UNITED 96 (Goulding 33, Ili 17, Krebs 14; Travers 11 rebs; Krebs 4 assts) d ILLAWARRA HAWKS 84 (Clark 24, Robinson 20, Froling 12, Harvey 10; Robinson, Froling 4 rebs; Robinson 9 assts) at John Cain Arena. Crowd: 9,067

SOBEY's early foul woes didn't impact hugely as players such as Sam McDaniel, Isaac White and Charles Smith all lifted and when he returned, his 28 points at 63 per cent was the key to ending Tasmania's chances of splitting its round with a road win.

Mitch Norton was hustling, Tyrell Harrison controlling the paint - Marcus Lee in foul trouble but wearing some heinous calls - as the Bullets held the slightest of edges throughout.

Majok Deng came off the JJ's bench for four two-handed first-half dunks - he had five for the game - and a triple in his 13 points and Sean MacDonald was deadly, hitting 4-of-6 threes.

Tasmania was making its last quarter run when Lee fouled out pursuing an offensive rebound, Sobey feeling contact and falling to the floor. A seasoned pro such as Lee, on four fouls, just would not have chosen to risk fouling out that way but the Ants do not get the same love from officials as they do from fans nationwide.

There was very little in the tight finish, a Sobey 3-point bank significant before Crawford's layup made it 87-90, Brisbane taking timeout with 4.9 seconds left.

Advancing the ball, they still almost blew it when a fatigued and less effective Milton Doyle secured a steal for Jordan to have a last shot for the tie.

The relief was palpable when it missed.  

BRISBANE BULLETS 90 (Sobey 28, Smith 11, Harrison, Bannan, White 10; Bannan 10 rebs; Norton 4 assts) d TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 87 (McVeigh 18, Deng 17, Crawford 16, MacDonald 12; Lee, Krslovic 7 rebs; Doyle 8 assts) at Nissan Arena. Crowd: 4,559

IT IS TIME!

REFEREES need to be instructed what a screen is and not perpetually penalise the player setting the screen (or pick if you prefer) just because a smaller defender runs into it and finishes up on his butt.

It is a legal play. Sure, penalise the moving screen but not those that were well set and result in a defender hitting the floor. That guy should be getting in the face of the teammate who didn't tell him it was coming. Not looking at the ref for relief.

And referees should not be providing that relief. And would it be possible to have a player drive to the hoop and not be routinely rewarded with an and-one free throw just because he yelled out "Hey!"?