Heartland Hustle: Phoenix Look to Bounce Back Against Hawks

Both the Phoenix and the Hawks started the season 3-0 and both are coming off their first loss of the season, the Phoenix away to the Kings and the Hawks away to Brisbane.

Both teams will be looking to get back into the winner's circle with the victor improving to 4-1 the loser will fall to 3-2.

Key Details

Illawarra Hawks v South East Melbourne Phoenix

Where: Wollongong Entertainment Centre

When Thursday, December 23, 7.30 pm.

Watch on ESPN available via Kayo/Foxtel

(Xavier Munford against Illawarra in the NBL Blitz.)

The Teams

Phoenix

Devin Thomas travelled with the team and will undergo a fitness test on game day as he continues to recover from his time spent in isolation.
The rest of the Phoenix lineup remains unchanged.

Hawks

The Hawks lineup is unchanged, the same team that lost to the Bullets in Brisbane will be taking on the Phoenix.

"We played a below-strength South East Melbourne side in the pre-season and that was a tough contest and we're not expecting anything different at the WEC on Thursday night," Hawks Coach AJ Ogilvy said. "The Phoenix are one of the competition heavyweights this year and we need a big performance to prove we belong in that conversation as well."

(Zhou Qi will look to continue his in-form start to the season.)

The History

Regular season Head to Head

7-1

South East Melbourne Phoenix v Illawarra Hawks

Players to Watch

Ryan Broekhoff v Antonius Cleveland

Cleveland's defence to start the season has been impressive, but he'll need his head on a swivel to stay in front of Broekhoff. Yet to reproduce his pre-season form the Phoenix sharpshooter shot the lights out in Round 12 last season at WEC  going 7 for 11 from 3 in what was a 32 point win of the Hawks.

Phoenix Media (22/12/21)