Phoenix Fail to Fire

Coming off a game where they scored just 5 points in the first half and 49 in total the Kings were always going to come out firing. It was up to the Phoenix to match their energy and intensity from the tip and early on it this was not the case.

The Kings immediately opened up a lead, hitting 7 threes in the first quarter, the Phoenix in contrast went 1 for 14 in the first half.

The Phoenix simply allowed the Kings too many opportunities to score, while finding consistent avenues to the hoop at their own end difficult.  A last quarter run saw the Phoenix get within 9, but they could not overcome an 8 for 30 shooting display from beyond the arc.

The 11 point loss to the Kings was the first of the season for the Phoenix, who must now re-group before they take on the Hawks in Illawarra on Thursday.

(Mitch Creek had the most points for Phoenix with 22.)

The result:

Sydney Kings 84-73 South East Melbourne Phoenix
 
The numbers

Phoenix:
Mitch Creek 22 points, 5 rebounds
Zhou Qi 17 points, 13 rebounds and 5 blocks
Izayah Leafa 13 points 
 
Kings:
Xavier Cooks 19 points, 11 rebounds
Angus Glover 15 points 
Jarrel Martin 12 points, 13 rebounds

The turning point:

Sydney who couldn’t hit the ocean from a boat on Thursday night, opened the game shooting 7/10 from beyond the arc. As accurate as the Kings were, the Phoenix were not, scoring just 14 points in the 1st quarter, finding themselves in a 15 point hole to start the second.
From there it just became a bridge too far for the Phoenix who were unable to fight their way back into the game.

The Player of the Game:

 Zhou Qi was again enormous at both ends of the floor, recording 17 points and 13 rebounds. The big man patrolled the paint adding 5 blocks to his tally.
 
The Play of the Game:

Zhou Qi took the ball almost from coast to coast in the first quarter. Showing remarkable control for a big man, he used his superior touch to finish his one man fast break at the rim.

(Zhou Qi had a double-double night.)

From The Coach
Simon Mitchell
"I thought we were pretty poor tonight. I felt like we were manhandled a little bit and didn’t respond to their physicality.

"We gave up way too many offensive bords and second shot chances for them. That's a key focus for us and was a key focus going into the game, keep them off the boards and look after the ball. We didn't do either."

From The Player
Mitch Creek
"It felt like we had no space and no pace tonight.  Turnovers killed us tonight, we just never got it going offensively. A few times we passed shots we should of taken and took shots we should have passed."

Phoenix Media (18/12/21)