VMT MATCH PREVIEW: Phoenix on the Road to Bounce Back Against 36ers

Key Details

ADELAIDE 36ERS 3-7 (8th) vs SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 6-5 (4th) 
Where: Adelaide Entertainment Centre
When: Friday, November 17 at 7:30pm AEDT
Watch Live on ESPN via Kayo or Foxtel

After a tough loss to their cross-town rivals Melbourne United in Throwdown XXII to the tune of nine points, they'll be looking to get back to the gritty defensive basketball that saw them skyrocket to as high as second on the table.

Daniel Johnson returns to the house he helped build, facing off against the 36ers after 13 seasons and seven-MVP wins.

The last time the two sides met, the Phoenix got their first away win for the season and saw Alan Williams play his first game for the NBL24 campaign.

The big man is well in the conversation for NBL MVP despite having fouled out three times in seven games.

The 36ers are coming off a 10-point loss to the Tasmania JackJumpers and will be hoping to bounce back in front of their home crowd.

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Teams

Phoenix

Gorjok Gak continues to rehab from a calf injury and will miss tonight’s game. Daniel Johnson will be his nominated replacement player.

36ers

The 36ers will be without Trey Kell for the second game in a row due to a minor leg injury.

(Johnson and Creek reunited at Phoenix afer both playing at the 36ers together.)

Keep an Eye On

Daniel Johnson

You can’t go past the man whose number 21 jersey hangs in the Adelaide Entertainment Centre after it was retired at the end of the last season. With a game under his belt, he will undoubtedly turn it up in front of the Adelaide crowd, despite returning the club he played more than 300 games for on the opposite side of the court.

Isaac Humphries

The last time he faced the Phoenix, Isaac Humphries had an unusually quiet game, but from then on, he's been firing on all cylinders. Coming up against the rebounding force of Alan Williams will be a task for Humphries as he continues to build on a slow-start.

History

Regular Season Head-to-Head
Phoenix 8-7 36ers

Last time out – Rd 4, NBL24
Phoenix 102-85 36ers

Phoenix

Creek 23p
Browne 19p
Cummings 18p

36ers

Kell 21p
Vasiljevic 17p
Wiley 14p