Joey Wright calls out Casper Ware as Adelaide end Melbourne hoodoo

A war of words has broken out between Adelaide 36ers coach Joey Wright and Melbourne United star Casper Ware after the Sixers scored a 103-101 win at a sold-out Melbourne Arena on Wednesday night.

The Sixers held an eight-point lead midway through the final term and looked poised to run away with the game before Ware caught fire. Ware's flurry of baskets plus some big defensive plays saw Melbourne make a dramatic late run in the NBL's latest open air game.

Ware's lay-up with 18.8 seconds to play cut the lead to 103-101 and Melbourne forced a turnover on the next play with a sideline trap.

Ware then made a decision he would later regret: reading that his defender was backing off him, he made a step-back move and launched a long shot with five seconds to play that missed, allowing the Sixers to take the win.

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Ware's game-high 26 points included 12 points in the final term, while Ramone Moore (18 points) and Jacob Wiley (18 points) led the Sixers.

"It's something that is just a reaction – I went with the step-back," Ware said.

"I thought he [his defender] was playing me to the basket but seeing it now I feel I should have kept going to the basket … I've been there four straight times and they couldnt stop me.

"It's one of those things where I did it, live with it and learn from it."

Post-game Wright and Ware had words. Wright didnt hide his unhappiness in the press conference, praising his players and raising Ware's in-game trash talk.

The two clubs fought out a fierce five-game NBL grand final series last season, with Melbourne wining in the fifth game at Melbourne Arena.

What was said and how often words were exchanged remains in contention. Wright said it happened all game, while Ware said he was caught up in the moment after making a big shot in the final term and then talking to the first person he saw, which was Wright.

"He was making some big shots," Wright said.

"What was interesting was they kicked our butt here the last three or four times and we have been gracious and walked out of the building and the guy is all in my face.

"I've been coaching 16 years and I've never had a player talk to me. I don't talk to players, that ain't something I do.

"I coach the game. I don't talk to players, I don't know why he was over there talking to me. It was interesting. Very interesting."

Ware said he was caught up in the moment after nailing a big shot near the Sixers' bench.

"I just hit a shot and said 'It's my time' – it's pretty much it," Ware said.

"If he makes a big deal about that, I don't know, just the spirit of the game when you're going, I felt good, that's all it was.

"If he's not happy with it then he's not happy with it.

"It's part of the game for me, I made the shot, looked around, he's the first person I've seen, just said "it's my time" and got back on defence, that's all it was.

"It wasn't like talking, like "you guys suck", it wasn't a big deal."

Wright said his side had taken their previous losses and not reacted badly.

"He was in my face. Did you see him yelling in my face most of the game?" Wright said.

"I thought it was disappointing. We come here to play basketball.

"I dont have any personal grudges against these guys. We congratulated them when they won and it was interesting he wouldnt do the same."

What is clear is that Adelaide had two more home games against Melbourne this season on January 28 and February 10 and their home fans have always loved making public enemies out of opposition players.

The win also shows that Adelaide may be starting to regain their form just as it looked like Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane were beginning to break away in the top four.

Now all bets on the top four are off.

Melbourne United have the rest of the round off and return to the court against Brisbane Bullets on the Gold Coast on January 6.

Roy Ward is a Sports writer for The Age.

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