Melbourne United have kept their hopes of a fourth-placed NBL finish alive and ended South East Melbourne's top-two aspirations with a gripping 95-91 win over the Phoenix.
United had stormed ahead by 16 points in Thursday night's Throwdown derby at John Cain Arena, before the Phoenix went on a withering 19-0 rampage to suddenly flip the script.
The two teams traded baskets - and the lead - throughout a seesawing fourth quarter.
With United up 93-91, Phoenix reserve Malique Lewis blocked Milton Doyle's drive with 11.4 seconds remaining, handing the last possession to SEM.
But Phoenix superstar Nathan Sobey missed a tough drive with six seconds remaining and the rebound was collected by Doyle, who added two late free throws.
Imports Doyle (25 points, 5-of-12 three-pointers), Tyson Walker (23, 5-of-10) and Jesse Edwards (17 points, 11 rebounds) all troubled the Phoenix (22-11), who will finish third.
Fifth-ranked Melbourne (20-13) need Adelaide to beat fourth-placed Perth on Sunday, likely by 11 or more points, to leap to fourth.
"Good start, solid through the second quarter, something happened to us in the third quarter, then we finished strong," United coach Dean Vickerman said.
"It's pleasing to have those moments and find a way through it."
Sobey (29 points, 5-of-8 from deep) was brilliant from the tip, scoring 10 of SEM's first 12 points and the Phoenix jumped ahead 14-8 before being sandbagged by their crosstown rivals for the duration of the opening term.
Walker had 10 first-quarter points, including a three on the buzzer to cap a 12-1 spree to close the term which gave United a healthy 33-23 buffer.
Edwards' putback - Melbourne's ninth offensive board of the second term - on the halftime bell increased United's cushion to 52-42.
The gap blew out to 66-50 before the Phoenix called a time-out and trounced Melbourne at both ends for the next five minutes.
A shell-shocked United coughed up six turnovers during that horror patch - three of them from Lewis steals.
Sobey made it 19 unanswered SEM points when he drilled a three, before following with another one on the three-quarter-time horn to give the Phoenix a 72-68 lead.
"They kind of beat us at our own game - 20 offensive rebounds (for Melbourne) - especially in that first half," SEM coach Josh King.
"They came out the more hungry, more dominant team."
