The third meeting of the series between last season's Grand Finalists saw United head into the game with back-to-back overtime defeats, but there was no danger of this one stretching out after a fourth quarter blowout.
37-year-old Chris Goulding was not present at the John Cain Arena due to illness but they welcomed back star import Jesse Edwards after his brief absence with an eye injury.
The home side got the ball rolling by sinking their first two from the perimeter, more than they had managed in their entire game last Sunday when going 1 from 28, whilst they were able to reduce the hefty turnover count that beset them in their 86-92 point loss to Sydney Kings last Sunday.
Three-time NBA champion JaVale McGee was almost a non-participant in the first quarter, landing just one bucket and three rebounds in eight minutes on the court and his frustrations were becoming visibly evident as he was unable to get into the game.
Things weren't going to plan for the defending champions Illawarra in the opening term as, along with McGee needing time to get into a groove, guard Tyler Harvey was grimacing and grabbing at his lower back late in the first term, pointing to a potential niggle that resurfaced more than once throughout the game.
The Hawks shot just three of 13 two-pointers in the opening termthree of 13 two-pointers in the opening term and found themselves off to a slow start in the second when, after conceding the first five points of the quarter in quick succession, head coach Justin Tatum called a timeout within the first minute of the quarter after Melbourne's four-point lead had been extended to nine.
United got their lead out to 15 at the midway point of the second quarter with their fifth successful three-pointer before an impressive drive from Todd Blanchfield, who scored eight points across three consecutive possessions, brought the margin back to four points and must have induced some sweaty nerves amongst the United faithful.
Having already haken off two separate hamstring injuries this year, Shea Ili went straight off the court and down the race after pulling up during a fast break. A third hamstring strain was confirmed later in the game.
The game was delayed by a period of 15 minutes due to a shot clock malfunction and the resumption gave way to a tasty big man battle between Melbourne United’s Jesse Edwards and McGee, who was slowly but surely working his way into the game.
United threatened to get away again when they pushed the lead out to 13 but Illawarra went on an eight-point stretch as McGee stepped up in the final minute of the quarter, pouncing on a late turnover to bring the deficit back to five before blocking Edwards.
The Hawks shot at 58% throughout the third quarter to stay in touch with their hosts but were made to pay for some ill discipline by a United side that shot 22 from 22 from the stripe.
It was of immense relief for United, who had come into this game having lost six consecutive third quarters including Sunday's collapse against Sunday.
After missing four consecutive field goal attempts, Dash Daniels - playing on his 18th birthday - opened the scoring in the fourth quarter with an unguarded three to get the margin back out to double digits and Melbourne never looked back, applying the defensive squeeze on a deflated Illawarra side that remain two wins outside the top-six.
United had lost four games in a row in the back end of last season before ending the regular season with a 7-2 run and veteran head coach Dean Vickerman will be hoping his team's rut is now behind them, but the busy holiday period will be immensely difficult with Shea Ili and potentially Chris Goulding on the sidelines for next Tuesday's open air game against Tasmania JackJumpers.
Illawarra remains the worst perimeter defence in the competition after giving up another 11 three-pointers and couldn't get a game winning impact out of star McGee, who added a still admirable 18 points and ten rebounds to the 65 and 26 he notched up across the Rounds 8 & 10 encounters with Melbourne.