Short Turnaround No Issue for Phoenix

Mitch Creek and the Phoenix went into tonight's game after a double overtime win against the Sydney Kings on Sunday.

The Phoenix missed Gary Browne and Ryan Broekhoff to injury, while Zhou Qi returned home for family reasons. None of that impacted the outcome as the Phoenix put the Bullets to the sword. 

The game started with both teams going bucket for bucket, and the Bullets finished the quarter up two. 

The second quarter saw the young guns of Phoenix step up, leading to a 36-point quarter, going into the main break 56-47.

In the second half, Phoenix missed a couple of opportunities early on that could have taken them beyond 15, but at the other end, the Bullets failed to make any inroads. A Trey Kell three-ball saw the lead balloon to 16. 

The final quarter was academic, as the visitors continued to score at will, defeating the Bullets by 27 points. 

Phoenix has another short turnaround before they face the Adelaide 36ers on Christmas Eve.

(Creek notched up a 29-point game in the win over the Bullets.)

The Result:

South East Melbourne Phoenix 104 - 77 Brisbane Bullets

The Numbers

Phoenix
Creek: 29 points, 5 rebounds
Kell: 17 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists
Adam: 14 points

Bullets
Sobey: 31 points

The Turning Point

Kell 3 in Third

The Bullets were hanging around until a three-pointer from Kell in the third put the game beyond the Bullet's reach. 

The Play of the Game

Phoenix Team Play

The Phoenix desperation was on show in the fourth. A loose ball was saved from going out of court by Alan Williams, who flicked it to Junior Madut, who caught it just inside the sideline before throwing a pass to Grant Anticevich who threw a head fake at the defender before calmly knocking down a mid-range jumper.

The Player of the Game

Trey Kell

Kell rolled his ankle in Sunday's double-overtime win, but that didn't affect him; after a slow start, he finished with his first double-double of the season with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists.

(Kell showed no signs of a rolled ankle with getting his first double-double in the NBL.)

From the Coach

Simon Mitchell

"We come out of that win against Sydney a little scarred...how many ladders can I walk under. Tremendously gutsy performance, we had guys stand up as well. Creeky was great again but Kyle slips into that starting five comfortably. I thought Junior Madut had some good minutes as well, Grant Anticevich when he had his moments he was very productive...Everyone answering the bell and that's important for us."

From the Player

Kyle Adnam

“As a leader of the club, I've got to be flexible at times. We've got an unbelievable point guard sitting at home right now, Gary Browne is amazing. For me I just got to be flexible , be ready whenever my opportunities come where to start or not, just be ready for those and contribute where I can."

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Phoenix Media (21/12/22)