VMT MATCH PREVIEW: Phoenix Look to Upset Kings Finals Berth

Key Details

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 10-17 (10th) vs SYDNEY KINGS 12-15 (7th)
Where: The Fire Pit, John Cain Arena 
When: Saturday, February 17 at 5:30pm AEDT
Watch Live on ESPN via Kayo or Foxtel
TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE, CLICK HERE TO SECURE YOUR TICKET

The Phoenix will be playing for pride when they enter the Fire Pit for their final game for NBL24.

Both teams are coming into the game after tough losses to the JackJumpers and Hawks and will be arriving in red hot to get the win.

Mike Kelly’s team will gain a couple of soldiers back into his side with the return of captain Mitch Creek and young gun Owen Foxwell, whose ankle injury looked to be more minor than first thought.

It’s a do-or-die game for the Kings, who are sitting just outside the top six at seventh. It’s simple for them: Win, and they make the play-ins; lose, and their path towards a three-peat championship is over. 

The Phoenix will look for a clean sweep against the Kings after winning the last two outings, including the game of the season at the State Basketball Centre in round 17.

Matt Kenyon will suit up for his 100th NBL game after two seasons each at the Brisbane Bullets and Tasmania JackJumpers before finding his way to the Phoenix.

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Teams

Phoenix

The Phoenix will regain Mitch Creek and Owen Foxwell for the last game of the season. Unfortunately, import Gary Browne will miss the final game with a knee injury sustained at training.

DP’s Luke Rosendale and Austin Rapp will remain in the line-up.

Kings

The Kings will go in unchanged from round 19 tomorrow.

Keep an Eye On

Courageous Phoenix

The Phoenix will be looking to end the season on a high when they take the court on Saturday to stop the reigning champions from making the finals. 

They will be looking to shape the finals once again, as they did back in NBL22, when they took a win over the Perth Wildcats, making them miss the finals for the first time in 36 years.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">CREEK SLAMMED THAT DOWN WITH AUTHORITY! ?<br><br>? ESPN ?? Kayo | Foxtel <a href="https://t.co/C6hWjpjAxD">pic.twitter.com/C6hWjpjAxD</a></p>&mdash; South East Melbourne Phoenix (@SEMelbPhoenix) <a href="https://twitter.com/SEMelbPhoenix/status/1750449742222618705?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

History

Regular Season Head-to-Head
Phoenix 4-12 Kings

Last time out – Rd 17, NBL24
Phoenix 104-98 Kings

Phoenix
Creek 31p
Ayre 23p
Stattmann 16p

Kings
Adams 24p
Noi 19p
Valentine 13p

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