DREWITT'S BULBS MATCH REPORT: Phoenix Agonisingly Short Across the Ditch

Mike Kelly was open about the need for defence after two losses, and it was a message heeded with the Phoenix restricting the hosts to 11 points at the first break, and just 33 at the main break.

Nathan Sobey (24 points, four assists) suffered a slow start, but found his feet across the ditch, finishing through contact and earning the and-ones, quietening down the Kiwi crowd with his catch-and-shoot capability.

The co-captain was back to his best, leading the team in scoring and proving a dead-eye from deep.

Jordi Hunter (12 points, 12 rebounds) and Joe Wieskamp (10 points, 11 rebounds) reigned in 18 first half rebounds to control the paint much to the pleasure of the Phoenix brass.

Matt Hurt (20 points, four rebounds) was a menace in the low post offensively, dropping 12 first half points and following Sobey’s lead in drawing fouls and finishing.

Matt Mooney hit a buzzer-beater three at the end of the third to give the Breakers their first lead of the game, with the final a to-and-fro affair with the Spark Arena crowd in raptures.

An offensive rebound and put back from Malique Lewis (seven points, three rebounds) reduced the margin to four points, and a Hurt triple with 5.3 seconds left on the clock reduced it to one, with the clock the only thing to stop the Phoenix’s strong run.

The hosts who would claim their second win to remain at the pointy end of the table, with the Phoenix now 0-3 in the NBL25 season.

South East Melbourne face the 36ers in Adelaide on Thursday Night to try and open their account for the current campaign.

FULL TIME STATS

Sobey: 24p/4r/4a/1stl 
Hurt: 20p/4r/1a/1blk
Hunter: 12p/12r/1blk
Wieskamp: 10p/12r/1stl/2blks
Lewis: 7p/3r
Walton Jr: 2p/1r/3a/1stl
Glover: 2p/2r/4a
Foxwell: 2p
Vodanovich: 1r

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