Heartland Hustle: Phoenix Look to Bounce Back Against Hawks
22 Dec
1
min read


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)

28 Dec
DREWITT’S BULBS MATCH PREVIEW: Phoenix head to Hobart after nine-day break

26 Dec
Phoenix sign Ian Clark for remainder of NBL26

26 Dec
Club Statement: Hunter Maldonado

23 Dec
Phoenix partner with Westfield Knox for holiday basketball camps

22 Dec
HART Sport and Phoenix Extend Partnership

20 Dec
Josh King & Angus Glover Press Conference vs Brisbane Bullets (Round 13, NBL26)

20 Dec
STANLEY MATCH REPORT: Phoenix compound Bullets woes with huge win

19 Dec
DREWITT’S BULBS MATCH PREVIEW: Phoenix celebrate Christmas in a Spectacular against Brisbane

18 Dec
Josh King & John Brown III Press Conference vs Perth Wildcats (Round 13, NBL26)

18 Dec
STANLEY MATCH REPORT: Phoenix prevail in Wild West thriller

18 Dec
Gorjok Gak departs Phoenix

18 Dec
The Phoenix Files with Wes Iwundu

17 Dec
DREWITT’S BULBS MATCH PREVIEW: Phoenix head West to take on Perth

16 Dec
William Adams CAT partners with the Phoenix for the Christmas Spectacular

13 Dec
Josh King & Nathan Sobey Press Conference vs New Zealand Breakers (Round 12, NBL26)

13 Dec
STANLEY MATCH REPORT: Sobey's 36 lifts Phoenix over Breakers
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