Phoenix Fail to Stop Hot Kings

Still, in the midst of an injury crisis, the Phoenix took on the Kings in their second game in four days. 

The return of Ryan Broekhoff was tempered by the loss of Trey Kell to a minor knee complaint sustained in the loss on Sunday against the JackJumpers.

The Phoenix started well, building an eight-point lead early in the first before finishing the quarter leading 30-24. 

The talk before the game was about the MVP battle between Mitch Creek and Xavier Cooks, but for much of the game, it was a battle between Creek and DJ Vasiljevic.

In the end, the King's accuracy from behind the arc secured the win. 

Phoenix now look ahead to their third game in a week when they travel to Cairns for Sunday's game before returning home.

The Result

South East Melbourne Phoenix 102 - 118 Sydney Kings

The Numbers

Phoenix
Creek: 32 points, nine rebounds
Adnam: 20 points, six assists
Williams: 14 points, ten rebounds.

Kings
Vasiljevic: 42 points

The Turning Point

Kings Long Bombs

The Kings were brutal from deep shooting 17-23, with Vasiljevic knocking down 10-14. Every time the Phoenix hit a big shot, it felt like the Kings would answer with a three-ball.

The Play of the Game

Creek steal

As the MVP candidates battled it out, Creek stripped Cooks and hit Junior Madut for a layup.

Player of the Game

Mitch Creek

Pre-game, it was the MVP match-up that dominated the airwaves, Creek won the personal battle, finishing with 32 points and nine rebounds, but Cooks got the win.

From the Coach

Simon Mitchell

"Certain areas we wanted to be a lot better at than the Tasmania game. It’s pretty obvious we are down on man power and that’s just the way it is…For us tonight there were some areas we wanted to accomplish and be solid in. There were periods where we’re able to sustain it and there were moments where we couldn’t."

From the Player

Mitch Creek

"I mean they were 17/23 and it felt like 17/23 too. It just felt like anytime we got a good hand or a decent contest, they made a big one and we make a big one and they made a big one…It’s kind of like how the last game went."

Phoenix Media (04/01/23)