Heartland Hustle: Phoenix Take On United in Throwdown XIII

The cross-town rivalry is renewed with the first Throwdown of NBL22 as South East Melbourne Phoenix take on Melbourne United.

The Phoenix have started the season with a pair of wins over the New Zealand Breakers , while United lost its season-opener against the Sydney Kings.

Go in depth on the two teams and where they are at ahead of the marquee meeting.

South East Melbourne Phoenix v Melbourne United
Where: John Cain Arena
When: Sunday, December 12, 2021, 1pm
Watch: FREE on 10 Peach, ESPN, Kayo

The Teams:

Phoenix

With Zhou Qi missing when South East Melbourne defeated United in the pre-season NBL Blitz, the Phoenix will be able to throw a different look at their opponents on Sunday. They will have to bounce back quickly from their encounter with the Breakers with less than 48 hours between buzzers. Fortunately, the Phoenix emerged from the Friday night game with no significant injuries - it will all be about recovering and recharging the batteries ahead of the big clash. Import forward Devin Thomas is edging closer to a Phoenix debut - but he’s not ready yet as he continues to build more familiarity after spending time in quarantine.

(Kyle Adnam lays the ball up against United during the NBL Blitz.)

United

Health has been a huge issue for Melbourne to start the season. Captain Chris Goulding missed United’s loss to Sydney Kings and is in doubt to suit up on Sunday due to a hamstring injury. They will welcome back veteran marksman David Barlow, who was a late out against the Kings, while forward Jack White will miss again as he completes his recovery from a ruptured Achilles. A fitness test will decide whether Goulding will be part of proceedings. United struggled without the trio, letting the Kings out to a 21-point lead, before roaring back into the contest but ultimately falling short, 79-74.

(Xavier Munford guards Matthew Dellavedova during the NBL Blitz.)

Players to watch:

Zhou Qi v Jo Lual-Acuil
The battle of the ‘Two Joes’ in the middle promises to be epic. Qi has impressed in his limited time in Australia, while Lual-Acuil is in the early stages of a break out season, leading the team with 12 points and 7 rebounds against the Kings.
Both men are long, lean, athletic - and unstoppable at both ends on their day.
This is a titanic battle that could swing the result.

The History:

Regular season Head-to-Head:  4-8

South East Melbourne Phoenix - Melbourne United

Last time out - NBL Blitz
South East Melbourne Phoenix 89-87 Melbourne United 

Phoenix
Ryan Broekhoff: 21 points, 7 rebounds, 6-8 3PT FGM
Mitch Creek: 18 points
Kyle Adnam: 10 points
Tristan Forsyth: 7 points, 6 rebounds

United
Chris Goulding: 26 points, 5-10 3PT FGM 
Ariel Hukporti: 13 points
Shea Ili: 13 points
Jo Lual-Acuil: 10 points, 10 rebounds

These two teams produced arguably the best game of the NBL Blitz and, while the rivalry is only young, you wouldn’t expect anything less.
In a brilliant back and forth battle, Phoenix rode a stunning last quarter from Ryan Broekhoff to a nail-biting two-point win.

Rowdy fired when he was needed most, hitting four of his six three-pointers in a two-minute stretch of the final quarter that gave the Phoenix the momentum it needed to claim victory.

The Phoenix withstood an 18 point first-half barrage from United captain Chris Goulding, who finished the game with 26, but missed a chance to win it at the buzzer.

Mitch Creek was as reliable as ever, keeping the Phoenix in touch with 18 points. With Qi missing due to national duties, DP Tristan Forsyth was leant on to contain United big men Ariel Hukporti and Jo Lual-Acuil and he delivered with 7 points and 6 rebounds in limited minutes.
Lual-Acuil managed a double-double for United.

(Mitch Creek has had an amazing start to the NBL22 season.)

The Quote:

“The Throwdown’s a great event (but) we don’t like each other. We may get along, I know me and Deano (United coach Vickerman) get along and (Phoenix assistant) Juddy (Flavell) and Deano, there’s people who are genuinely friends off the court, but I turn up to the gym and I don’t like them. It’s an organisation that I respect highly, it’s an organisation I had wonderful years in, but I just like us. I really want success for our team, I want success for our players and our front office and all of our work is in our fans.
-Phoenix head coach Simon Mitchell

“The Phoenix are playing well — they are a great squad that has good depth. With Dane (Pineau) starting in that group the other night, I thought he got back to the form we saw from him a couple of years ago. Munford was special, so they are a really good team.”
-United head coach Dean Vickerman

Phoenix Media (11/12/2021)