Heartland Hustle: Wednesday Night Hoops as Phoenix Face Bullets

After an epic win in Gippsland against the Sydney Kings on Sunday afternoon, South East Melbourne Phoenix had a last-minute schedule change that sees them travel to Brisbane to take on the Bullets.

The Bullets are coming off a tough loss against the Adelaide 36ers on Saturday night.

(The Phoenix are coming off a tough one point win in double OT against the Kings.)

Key Details

BRISBANE BULLETS 4-11 (9th) v SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 11-7 (4th)

Where: Nissan Arena

When: Wednesday, December 21 at 7:30pm AEDT

Watch on ESPN via Kayo or Foxtel

The Line Up

Phoenix

Phoenix will be without Zhou Qi (family reasons), Ryan Broekhoff (hip), and Gary Browne (calf) and will be replaced by Tohi Smith-Milner (NRP), Anzac Rissetto (DP), and Owen Foxwell (DP) respectively.

Bullets

The Bullets will be without Tanner Kerbs, Tyrell Harrison, Gorjok Gak and Tyler Johnson for the match.

(Gary Browne, Ryan Broehoff (injury) and Zhou Qi (family reasons) are all out for tonight's match.)

The History

Regular Season Head-to-Head:

South East Melbourne Phoenix 6-5 Brisbane Bullets 

Last time out – Rd 4, NBL23

Phoenix 89–88 Bullets 

Phoenix

Creek 31p

Williams 11p

Adnam 10p

Bullets

Cadee 21p

Johnson 15p

Baynes 11p

(Alan Williams vs Aron Baynes will be the key match-up in tonight's game.)

The Key Match Up

Alan Williams v Aron Baynes

The two bigs will be the ones to watch with the battle around the rim. Baynes has started to find his footing in the NBL, averaging 11.4 ppg and 8.3 rpg, while Williams has been excellent for the Phoenix, averaging 16.4 ppg and 9.3 rpg. The difference could be Williams ability to find a way to score in a number of ways in the paint.

(Mitch Creek had a career high 46 point game on Sunday against the Kings.)

The Difference Makers

Mitch Creek

Creek had a career-high 46 points in the one-point win over the Kings on Sunday. Mr Consistent for the Phoenix, his ability to accumulate points almost at will when his team needs it, will be key for the Phoenix tonight while they are missing sharpshooter Broekhoff and playmaker Browne.

Nathan Sobey

Sobey is averaging 13 points, five assists, and three rebounds this season. But Phoenix will need to lock down on Sobey, as he finds ways to get his teammates space and into scoring positions, while being able to make tough shots himself. Kell will most likely have the task of shutting him down.

Phoenix Media (21/12/2022)