STANLEY MATCH REPORT: Phoenix defence travels for win in NZ
Written By
NBL.com.au
The South East Melbourne Phoenix forced the New Zealand Breakers into 21 turnovers and Owen Foxwell lifted them to the 87-81 win at Spark Arena thanks to a dominant fourth quarter.
South East Melbourne had not played a league fixture in 17 days - owing to their exhibition clash with the NBA's New Orleans Pelicans - but showed few signs of rust across the ditch.
It was a seesaw affair right throughout the contest in Auckland and the Breakers did grab the momentum with 31 points to 13 in the second quarter to go into half-time on top 46-34.
Things turned around coming out of the half-time break and the Phoenix then capitalised with 53 points to 35 on the way to the eventual six-point victory.
Emerging point guard Foxwell proved the major difference with him finishing with 19 points, seven assists and four rebounds with 4/6 three-point shooting with the Phoenix outscoring the Breakers by 25 points with him out there.
He also played some terrific defence on Breakers superstar Parker Jackson-Cartwright and helping to force him into six turnovers along with nine points, nine assists, seven rebounds and three steals.
The Phoenix are now 2-1 on the season following the win with Nathan Sobey having nine first quarter points on his way 18 for the game to go with seven assists.
John Brown III also had 13 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals with Next Star Malique Lewis contributing 13 points on 3/6 shooting from downtown, and Jordan Hunter 10 points and seven rebounds.
New Zealand led by 12 points at half-time, but produced a litany of errors and gave up 21 turnovers. It was the biggest tally of second-year coach Petteri Kopenen's 35-game tenure and led to them taking 19 fewer shot attempts than the Phoenix.
The Breakers (1-5) opened their account for 2025-26 with a big victory over Illawarra on Wednesday, but have not won consecutive games since round seven last season.
Big man Sam Mennenga top-scored for New Zealand with 29 points, 11 rebounds and two steals with Rob Baker II adding 14 points, four boards and two blocks.
Sobey's nine first-quarter points gave the Phoenix a 21-15 buffer and the visitors didn't trail until midway through the second period.
The Breakers picked up the pace, led by Jackson-Cartwright and Mennenga, who cashed in with 15 first-half points.
Phoenix forward DJ Mitchell was handed an unsportsmanlike foul over his tangle with Max Darling, and the Breakers opened up a 46-34 lead by the main break.
Four consecutive Phoenix triples out of half-time, plus a series of defensive stops, quickly dragged the visitors back into the contest.
Carlin Davison and Mennenga connected on an alley-oop to bring home fans to their feet.
But the Phoenix were cleaner in the final period and outscored their opponents by 18 points in a dominant second half.
The Phoenix continue their road trip heading straight to South Australia to take on the Adelaide 36ers on Thursday.
FULL TIME STATS
Foxwell: 19p/4r/7a/1stl
Sobey: 18p/4r/7a/1stl
Brown III: 13p/5r/5a/2stls/1blk
Lewis: 13p/2r/1a
Hunter: 10p/7r/1a/1stl/1blk
Glover: 8p/2r/2a/1stl
Maldonado: 3p/3r/2a/1stl
Foster: 3p/1r
Aliir: 4r/1a/1stl
Mitchell: 2r
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