STANLEY MATCH REPORT: Kings down Phoenix in finals preview

It was physical and intense as you would expect with the Sydney Kings taking control of the South East Melbourne Phoenix after half-time.

The Sydney Kings sent quite the message of their championship aspirations, Kendric Davis put himself deeper into the MVP conversation and they dominated the South East Melbourne Phoenix in the second half to win 114-88.

Davis scored a game-high 30 points on 11/18 shooting despite close attention from Phoenix guard Owen Foxwell in a playoff-level encounter at John Cain Arena on Sunday.

The Kings superstar guard was one of three men handed technical fouls, along with Kings coach Brian Goorjian and Phoenix dynamo Nathan Sobey, in a fiery second period.

Sydney (21-9) broke the game open with a dominant second half and leapfrogged South East Melbourne (21-10) into second spot in the standings.

On top of Davis' 30 points and nine assists, Xavier Cooks had a fascinating battle with John Brown III and ended up with 20 points, four rebounds and three assists on 8/8 shooting with 4/4 at the foul line.

Jaylin Galloway added 14 points, five rebounds, four rebounds, four steals and three blocks, Torrey Craig 13 points, six boards, two steals and two blocks, and Makuach Maluach 10 points and two rebounds.

The Phoenix did attempt 19 extra shots than the Kings but it was Sydney shooting 59 per cent from the floor to South East Melbourne's 38, while the home team managed 8/40 from downtown and the visitors 6/24.

Sydney also went 26/32 at the free-throw line to just 14/15 from South East Melbourne.

Nathan Sobey had 15 points for the Phoenix but had five turnovers and shot 5/15 with Brown III adding 15 points, five rebounds and two steals.

Wes Iwundu finished with 14 points, Jordan Hunter 11 points and seven rebounds, and Malique Lewis 10 points, five boards and two assists.

Sydney built a 10-point advantage early in the second period, but it vanished in just four minutes before tempers flared.

Phoenix forward John Brown III ignited the contest when he won an offensive foul from Xavier Cooks with a theatrical tumble and fired up the crowd when he celebrated the decision.

Cooks raised an arm to Brown, though, replays appeared to show there was no contact.

Foxwell and Davis tangled off the ball moments later, and Davis was accused by South East Melbourne coach Josh King of kicking the Phoenix guard on the floor.

Davis also got caught up with Sobey as they fought for a rebound and blew up at his opponent, before refs handed both players technical fouls.

Goorjian copped one too after he flew the flag for Davis.

Davis was jeered by the crowd on the next play but stepped up to sink a huge three with two defenders in his face, and added an extra point after a foul.

He led all scorers with 14 points at half-time, when the Kings led 55-54.

Sydney dominated the third quarter and led 85-77 heading into the last, before blowing the game wide open.

South East Melbourne, who had 23 offensive rebounds to nine, scored just 34 points in a second half to forget, including 11 in the final period, as their long-range shooting went cold.

The Phoenix now have two games to go in the regular season starting on Saturday at home to the Tasmania JackJumpers ahead of a Throwdown with Melbourne United.

FULL TIME STATS

Brown III: 15p/5r/1a/2stl
Sobey: 15p/1r/2a/2stl
Iwundu: 14p/2r/1a
Hunter: 11p/7r/2stl
Lewis: 10p/5r/2a
Foxwell: 9p/4r/7a
Clark: 6p/1r/2a
Mitchell: 3p/3r/1blk
Foster: 3p/3r
Glover: 2p/2r/3a

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