Phoenix show firepower against Bullets

Arnas Velička led a spirited third quarter fight back from the Brisbane Bullets at the CODE Sports NBL Blitz but in the end giving up 67 points in the first half proved too much with the South East Melbourne Phoenix going on to win 113-105.

It was a second and last game at the Blitz in Bendigo for both teams with the Phoenix coming off a first up win against the Sydney Kings while the Bullets also were impressive beating the Tasmania JackJumpers.

South East Melbourne then came out flying out of the blocks with 37 points in the first quarter and another 30 in the second to go into half-time leading 67-54 on the back of shooting 23/41 from the field with Nathan Sobey showing the way with 11 points.

Brisbane fired back in the second frame with 26 points to 17 to make it just a four-point game by three quarter-time but the Phoenix responded with another 29 points to 25 in the fourth term on the way to the eight-point victory to wrap up their week at the Blitz.

On the back of 37 points in the first quarter, South East Melbourne added the 30 again in the second term to go into half-time with 67 on the board showing the scorching pace that coach Josh King again wants his team to play at in NBL27.

Brisbane did work back into the contest, though, with the 33 points in the second quarter and by half-time their offence wasn’t an issue with the 54 points on 20/39 shooting from the field including 9/21 from the outside.

That included another 12 points from star rookie Max Mackinnon while Arnas Velička added eight points and five assists, and Tyrell Harrison eight points and five rebounds.

The Bullets were then able to keep that momentum going into the third quarter with another 26 points to 17 on the back of shooting 8/17 from the field with 9/13 from the foul line.

That cut the Phoenix lead back to 84-80 by three quarter-time but they were able to respond once again to take control in the fourth period with 29 points to 25 to secure the eight-point victory.

The Phoenix ended the game shooting 47 per cent from the field with 15/47 from the outside while collecting 18 offensive rebounds to end up with an extra 14 shot attempts.

South East Melbourne had six players scoring in double digits led by 17 points from D'Shawn Schwartz with four rebounds.

Angus Glover also had 16 points and five rebounds, Skylar Mays 14 points, four boards, three assists, two steals and two blocks, Nathan Sobey 14 points and four assists, Dash Daniels 14 points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals, and Tanner Krebs 11 points, four boards and two assists.

Brisbane finished up shooting 53 per cent from the field with 13/32 from deep but did only go 16/29 at the foul line while also coughing up 17 turnovers.

Lithuanian import point guard Arnas Velička was impressive with 24 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and four steals as he continues to show that the unconventional approach might pay off for Will Weaver.

Max Mackinnon had another 17 points, three rebounds and two assists, Nate Hinton 14 points, four boards, three assists and two steals, Tyrell Harrison 13 points and eight rebounds, Jaylin Williams 11 points and three assists, Harry Rouhliadeff eight points and three rebounds, and Jacob Holt eight points and six boards.

Josh King's side have one remaining preseason game against New Zealand Breakers on Tuesday, September 8 at Montmorency Secondary College, before their full focus turns to Round 1 of the Hungry Jack's NBL27 season.

FULL TIME STATS

Schwartz: 17p/4r/1a
Glover: 16p/5r/1a/1blk
Mays: 14p/4r/3a/2stl/2blk
Sobey: 14p/1r/4a/1stl
Daniels: 14p/4r/4a/4stl
Krebs: 11p/4r/2a
Morin: 8p/2r/1a/1stl
Hunter: 6p/2r
Aliir: 5p/3r/1blk
Goodrick: 3p/2r
Davidson: 3p/1r/1stl