The Tigers led by 25 points with 11 minutes to go but the 36ers staged an 18-0 run to trail by four with four minutes left. Melbourne evetually won 112-105.
"One of the guys said we certainly provide entertainment," Melbourne coach Lindsay Gaze said, reports The Australian.
"I said if you talk about creating anxiety as being entertainment, we certainly do that."
"I told the guys at three-quarter time that 20-point margins in this league can evaporate very quickly and we have to make sure we maintain our focus and effort.
"I don't think we were too bad at that. Despite the fact they were eroding our advantage and, although we dried up, at least we were getting the shots we wanted to get.
Melbourne's Big Four Mark Bradtke (28 points), Andrew Gaze (24), Marcus Timmons (24) and Lanard Copeland (21) were too potent for the 36ers.
Adelaide point guard Darnell Mee (22) was the only 36er to score more than 20 points.
The 36ers were backing up after an upset 112-95 loss to NBL expansion team West Sydney Razorbacks in Adelaide the night before.
The Razorbacks are third on the table with a 4-2 record and have established themselves as play-off contenders.
Click here to see all the NBL Scores and latest Ladder from the weekend.
After four rounds of the NBL, the statistical leaders were:
Points per game: Andrew Gaze (Melbourne) - 37.3
Rebounds per game: Mark Bradtke (Melbourne) 17.8
Assists per game: Ricky Grace (Perth) - 11.0
Blocked shots per game: Mark Bradtke (Melbourne) - 3.8
Field goal percentage: Brett Wheeler (Victoria) - 66.7% (14/21)
Free throw percentage: C J Bruton (Wollongong) - 95.2% (20/21)
Three-point percentage: Terry Johnson (Newcastle) - 68.2% (15/22)
Canberra, AUSTRALIA (Nov 9) - The juniors keep leading the league, after Kristen Veal and Lauren Jackson combined again on the weekend to keep the young and exciting Australian Institute of Sport team atop the Women's National Basketball League.
Veal, 17, top scored in both matches for the AIS, with 21 points in the 75-66 victory over the defending champions, Adelaide Lightning, and another 20 when the team lost to Perth 78-68 in overtime, reports Australian Associated Press.
Jackson, also 17, picked up 20 points against Perth but the teenagers' collective tally was unable to overcome the big game and 22 points from Gina Stevens for the Breakers.
The Lighning, enduring their worst start to the league in years, couldn't match the enthusiasm of the AIS despite 24 points from captain Rachael Sporn.
Click here to see all the WNBL Scores and latest Ladder from the weekend.
Canberra, AUSTRALIA (Nov 9) - In what was supposed to be their last game before folding, the Canberra Cannons overcame their off-court dramas to thump the Sydney Kings.
The Cannons won their second game in a row, winning 111-88.
Thomas scored 27, Pearlman 22 and Borner 15 in the home side's 24-point win which lifts them to within a game of the top six - almost unbelievable for a club that wasn't supposed to exist anymore, until a saving bid appeared.
The NBL's John Rymars says he expects to meet on Monday night to discuss details of the proposed take-over of the Cannons, reports the ABC.
He dismissed claims by present owner Col Alexander that unless the salary cap is lowered, other clubs could suffer the same fate.
"Col's operating in a very emotional time and he's put a lot of effort and years into the Cannons so certain things may have been uttered because of emotion," Mr Rymars said.
"I think from a salary cap level - $695,000 - it's there but it's not only the players, its all the other costs associated with the business, the stadium, overheads and as we rebuild the NBL you'll see us concentrate heavily on those areas."
Click here to see where the Cannons stand in the latest NBL Ladder.
South Carolina, USA (Nov 9) - Australia's Nigel Berghan ruled the US Supreme Court, as Coastal Carolina University completed their exhibition season with a a 96-81 victory over "Supreme Court".
The Chanticleers finish the preseason schedule with a 1-1 record after losing 92-90 to USA Vasda earlier last week.
With Supreme Court holding a 35-33 advantage with 4:14 remaining in the first half, Coastal Carolina used a 9-0 run over the next 2:01 to open a 42-35 advantage. The two teams traded baskets the rest of the opening period as the Chanticleers held a 48-41 halftime lead.
Berghan scored 11 points.
Coastal Carolina will now open the regular season on November 14, at home against St. Andrews College.
Chicago, USA (Nov 9) - Michael Jordan's brother has joined with "Australian Hoops" to believe the shortened season could extend the superstar's career.
Larry Jordan said that because of the lockout, another NBA season is more appealing to his brother than the regular 82-game grind, plus playoffs.
"Two months ago I would have said that there was no way he was coming back," Larry Jordan said, reports Associated Press.
"But over the last two weeks, and since the season will be shortened by about 20 games, I think that would give him the perfect opportunity to get it out of his system. I think he's leaning toward coming back."
Australian Hoops has been making that prediction since the first spectre of player strife appeared.
But if the lockout wipes out the entire season, Jordan would probably never play pro basketball again, his brother said.
Chicago, USA (Nov 9) - "The NBA lockout may be the ABL's luckout. Who needs Mike when there's four-time Olympian Teresa Edwards, quadruple-double artist Debbie Black and slam-dunking Sylvia Crawley?" That's how Associated Press is reporting the start of the womens American Basketball League last week.
Debbie Black, of course, is the two-time ABL all-star who has also won honours with Hobart and Launceston in the WNBL and CBA in Australia.
Scottie Pippen was on the court in Chicago, but only to help tip off two new ABL franchises - the Nashville Noise and Chicago Condors.
Basketball fans around the world, including Australian Hoops, will be watching the ABL as the best professional league currently playing in the US.
New York, USA (Nov 9) - Connecticut, with Australian 7-foot centre Justin Brown, and after going 32-5 last season, was voted No. 2 in The Associated Press pre-season college basketball poll last week.
Duke was first with 34 first-place votes, while Connecticut was second with 25 first-place votes and 1,734 points.
Connecticut was voted No. 3 in the CNN/USA Today pre-season poll.
Canberra, AUSTRALIA (Nov 2) - Canberra Cannons owner and chairman Col Alexander says the club will run out of money tomorrow night and its future is now in serious doubt, reports the ABC.
Alexander today met with various government members seeking bi-partisan support in gaining a major sponsor to keep the National Basketball League foundation club alive.
Alexander says the proposal now rests with the Australian Capital Territory Chief Minister, but he admits he is not confident of saving the team.
Perth, AUSTRALIA (Nov 2) - The NBA lock-out has done Australia a favour and delivered guard Clinton McDaniel for his comeback with Perth against West Sydney this weekend.
McDaniel, who played point guard for South East Melbourne last National Basketball League season, will replace retiring swingman Todd Lichti, reports The Australian.
"C-Mac" had been waiting to try out with a National Basketball Association team, but came to terms with the Wildcats last Saturday and will arrive in Perth on Wednesday.
Several other NBA hopefuls in the US have also tired of waiting for the NBA lock-out to end, and headed to Europe for the usual round of rich contracts there.
McDaniel will play off guard alongside playmaker Ricky Grace in the Wildcats' new-look back-court.
"Clint will help us considerably," Perth assistant coach Mike Ellis said. He'll give us more penetration, which we aren't getting. That will help our big men Paul Rogers, James Crawford and Andrew Vlahov."
Melbourne, the only undefeated team in the league, inflicted a third consecutive defeat on the Wildcats when they won 111-96 in Perth on over the weekend.
Tigers guard Andrew Gaze scored a round-high 44 points, including 24 in the first quarter, which was three short of his NBL record for first-quarter points.
Cash-strapped Canberra helped their cause to remain in the league with their first win of the season, beating previously undefeated Newcastle 98-95 in Newcastle over the weekend.
Click here for the latest NBL Scores and Ladder and here for the WNBL Scores and Ladder.
Brisbane, AUSTRALIA (Oct 30) - The Brisbane Bullets are looking forward to their first ever National Basketball League clash with the new West Sydney Razorbacks, reports the ABC.
The game is expected to be close, with both teams scoring an average of 98 points three games into the season.
The Bullets (1-2) are in seventh position, while the Razorbacks (2-1) are third.
The teams have met once before in a pre-season game, with West Sydney finishing ahead 100-93.
Bullets coach Brian Kerle says the pre-season game does not indicate either sides' current form.
In other NBL matches this weekend, Perth take on Melbourne, Newcastle play Canberra, Adelaide play Wollongong and Sydney play Victoria.
Click here to see the complete NBL draw.
New York, USA (Oct 30) - With the first month of NBA games cancelled, and the possibility of more cancellations to come, Australia's amateur US college basketballers are about to embark upon a season as the singular attraction for basketball fans.
ESPN reports the legions of NBA followers will take the opportunity to discover the beauty of the college game.
Associated Press reports the NBA lock-out, keeping Australia's Luc Longley and Chris Anstey on the sidelines, will cost literally billions of dollars.
The NBA was supposed to open its season next season, but instead has canceled its first four weeks -- 194 games in all. The earliest the season might begin now is December 1.
The league and its 29 teams had expected to generate nearly US$2 billion in revenue this year through sales of tickets, arena suites, broadcast rights and advertising signs and its share of an estimated US$3 billion-plus in licensed merchandise sales worldwide, with Australia one of its biggest markets.
The canceled games -- and the possibility of a lost season -- could also exact a toll in the hundreds of millions of dollars from local economies.
The Charlotte Hornets pump close to US$100 million a year into the city economy, estimates a US economics professor.
Cleveland's tourism boss said Cavaliers home games each generate $1.9 million in restaurant, hotel, bar and souvenir business.
NBA teams each play 41 regular season games at home and more if they make the playoffs.
In Chicago, where the Bulls have won six NBA titles and feature Australia's Longley, Chamber of Commerce executives estimate each home game generates $8 million in local spending outside the arena.
New York, USA (Oct 30) - Australia's Justin Brown starts his US collegiate career on top with Connecticut the unanimous No. 1 selection in the Big East coaches' preseason poll.
The 7'0" Perth-born centre, who played last season with the Australian Institute of Sport, joins a team returning five starters from last year's NCAA regional finalists.
The Huskies, 32-5 last season, have won four of the last five Big East regular season titles, including last season when they went 15-3, their most losses in any of the championship years.
Connecticut junior Richard Hamilton, the conference player of the year last season, was chosen preseason player of the year. Joining the forward on the preseason all-conference team is Connecticut team mate Khalid El-Amin.
Newcastle, AUSTRALIA (Oct 30) - The Newcastle Falcons are asking the NBL to reconsider the severity of a penalty handed down to player Todd Mundt, who was suspended for two games for spitting at another player, reports the ABC.
Mundt has apologised to Sydney Kings' player Scott MacGregor for the incident, and says he should not have done it.
Newcastle have responded to the ruling with a request that the tribunal review the two-game penalty, given Mundt's behaviour was out of character.
Meanwhile, the ABC reports the Perth Wildcats have agreed to release guard Todd Lichti from his playing contract.
Lichti played with the Denver Nuggets and Orlando Magic in the NBA before joining the Wildcats.
He will stay with the team for the next few weeks until a replacement is found.
Lichti asked for a release because of continuing injuries and to pursue a career in commentary with the National Basketball Association in the US.
South Carolina, USA (Oct 30) - The wait for Coastal Carolina University's Australian guard Nigel Berghan is over, with the the exhibition portion of the 1998-99 schedule tipping-off next week.
The Chanticleers mens side face the Saudia Arabia National Team on November 3.
Meanwhile, the women's squad will face - check this - "Australia" on December 5.
Given the time of year, "Australia" must be a touring CBA team. Keep checking here at Australian Hoops for the latest news.
Los Angeles, USA (Oct 30) - Just when the Latrell Sprewell saga was as bazaar as it could get, the previously suspended guard finds someone else to sue.
Latrell Sprewell, who was suspended last season by the NBA for choking Andrew Gaze's former college coach P.J. Carlesimo, has sued his agent for failing to negotiate a salary protection clause.
Sprewell claimed in the Los Angeles Superior Court that, because agent did not negotiate a personal conduct salary protection clause with the Golden State Warriors, he lost pay for the games he was suspended, reports Associated Press.
Was the agent really supposed to predict his client would choke the coach? Only in America...
Sprewell's three-year, US$24 million contract was terminated by the Warriors after he choked Carlesimo during practice last December.
The NBA added a one-year suspension, but an arbitrator reinstated Sprewell to the Warriors and cut the suspension to the 68 games remaining in the 1997-98 season.