Kings Overpower Shorthanded Phoenix

The backcourt duo of Kyle Adnam and Owen Foxwell combined for 41 points for the shorthanded South East Melbourne Phoenix in their final match at the NBL Blitz on Wednesday, but the depth of the Sydney Kings proved too much who prevailed 91-79.

The reigning champs were playing just their second game at the Blitz this week in Darwin as they gear up to defend their title in NBL23. 

The Kings got better the longer the game went and ended up putting on 31 points in the fourth quarter to win by 12 while virtually at full strength just with the absence of guard Angus Glover. 

That wasn’t the case for the Phoenix who were playing their third and last game at the Blitz. Again without key trio Mitch Creek, Ryan Broekhoff and Trey Kell, they then lost another import Gary Browne early in the contest with what appeared a knee complaint.

To top it all off, import big Alan Williams wasn’t able to get into the game battling foul trouble and then fouling out with five minutes to play to manage just 13 minutes on the floor for five points, six rebounds and six turnovers.

Despite that and even though they leave Darwin winless, the Phoenix can take heart from the performance especially the backcourt efforts of Adnam and Foxwell.

They might be at opposite ends of their careers, but had significant performances with Adnam delivering 24 points and five assists while Foxwell put up 17 points, four rebounds and three steals while playing some hounding defence on DJ Vasiljevic.

Despite how hard South East Melbourne fought, Sydney unveiled its depth of talent with nine players all scoring at least seven points and 10 players all hitting the floor for at least 10 minutes.

New import guard Derrick Walton top-scored with 15 points and three assists while Xavier Cooks added 11 points and five rebounds, and Tim Soares 10 points, three boards, three steals and two blocks.

Vasiljevic added nine points and four rebounds, Jaylin Galloway nine points and two blocks, Iggy Mitchell nine points, Jackson Makoi eight points, Shaun Bruce seven points and two assists, and Kouat Noi seven points and three rebounds.

Kyle Adnam opened up the encounter with a three-pointer for the Phoenix before both Tim Soares and DJ Vasiljevic responded in kind for the Kings.

Then a South East Melbourne team already minus Mitch Creek, Ryan Broekhoff and Trey Kell lost Gary Browne to an apparent knee injury shortly after he scored.

The Kings worked their way on top including with a three-point play from Soares, but the Phoenix were able to put together 11 straight points heading towards quarter-time including five points to Owen Foxwell and Junior Madut.

That saw South East Melbourne up five after one and that lead was still seven early in the second term on the back of a three ball from Grant Anticevich and three-point play from Madut.

Derrick Walton then was the spark to get Sydney back into the contest with nine quick points while two spectacular finishes also from Jaylin Galloway saw the reigning champs open up their own five-point half-time edge on the back of a triple just before the buzzer from Xavier Cooks.

The Phoenix opened up the second half strongly too and it was Adnam hitting the opening six points as part of an 8-2 run and that saw stand-in coach Kevin Lisch calling for an early timeout.

It didn’t immediately stem the tide with Adnam on fire hitting two more triples and eight more quick points before the Kings did steady the ship including a nice flush from Soares to see scores all square by three quarter-time.

Despite an eye-catching no-look pass from Adnam to set up Tohi Smith-Milner early in the fourth quarter, Sydney worked on top including going on a 10-0 run that including three balls from Iggy Mitchell and Shaun Bruce along with two techs for the Phoenix that saw Alan Williams foul out.

Despite late triples again from Adnam and Foxwell for South East Melbourne, Sydney cruised to its first win at the Blitz in the end by 12 points.

Day 7 at the NBL Blitz in Darwin will feature the Tasmania JackJumpers against the Cairns Taipans on Thursday followed by the Illawarra Hawks battling the Adelaide 36ers in the battle of undefeated teams.

The Phoenix have now finished their time in Darwin at the Blitz as they prepare to open NBL23 next Saturday at home to the Tasmania JackJumpers. The Kings still have one more game to go at the Blitz up against the New Zealand Breakers on Friday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL BLITZ – DAY 6

SYDNEY KINGS 91 (Walton 15, Soares 12, Cooks 11)

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 79 (Adnam 24, Foxwell 17, Madut 9) 

BOX SCORE