Heartland Hustle: Phoenix Fight for the Top Six Spot as They Take on Kings

The Phoenix remain in the thick of the finals race after two big wins over the Wildcats by 21 points and the Taipans by 5 points at a packed State Basketball Centre.

Today they face top of the ladder Kings in their final game of the regular season. A win today will all but secure their second finals berth in team history.

The last time the two sides met was a high-scoring battle with an undermanned Phoenix missing three starters against a Kings line-up who shot 17/23 from deep.

Despite this, the Phoenix fought hard, running out of steam late in the game.

The Kings returned to the winner's list with a 14 point win over the JackJumpers on Friday night.

(Phoenix play the Kings today to secure their spot in the top six.)

Key Details

SYDNEY KINGS 18-7 (1st) v SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 15-12 (5th)
Where: Qudos Bank Arena
When: Sunday, January 29 at 4 pm AEDT
Watch LIVE and FREE on 10 Peach or via ESPN, Kayo

The Line Up

Phoenix

Phoenix will be without sharpshooter Ryan Broekhoff as he continues to recover from his groin injury sustained against the Wildcats. Owen Foxwell will replace him. Development player Anzac Rissetto will not travel with the team.

Kings

The Kings will go into today's game with a full roster.

The Key Match Up

Trey Kell v Derrick Walton Jr

Kell is usually handed the defensive assignment on the toughest opposition guard. For Sydney, that's Walton Jr. A defensive beast; Kell has also had his offence rolling over the last two games.

Walton Jr keeps the King's offensive purring; he can seemingly score at will but is also adept at making sure his big men eat.

The History

Regular Season Head-to-Head:
South East Melbourne Phoenix 2-11 Sydney Kings

Last time – Rd 14, NBL23
Phoenix 102–118 Kings

Phoenix
Creek 32p
Adnam 20p
Williams 14p

Kings
Vasiljevic 42p
Cooks 16p
Soares 15p

(Phoenix are currently on a three game winning streak.)

The Difference Makers

Mitch Creek

Creek is averaging 39 points against the Kings this season. The MVP candidate is his team's barometer. A big game from Creek often results in a Phoenix win.

Dejan Vasiljevic

In the last outing against the Phoenix, Vasiljevic dominated from deep, hitting 10/14 from three and finishing the night with 42 points.

Phoenix Media (29/1/23)