The South East Melbourne Phoenix delivered an impressive performance in front of a packed crowd at John Cain Arena, defeating the Brisbane Bullets decisively with a score of 107-78 in the NBL. Nathan Sobey stood out against his former team, contributing significantly with 20 points and eight assists while leading the Phoenix to their seventh victory of the season by more than 20 points.
The contest took place during the Phoenix’s annual open-air game, where the team showed dominance right from the beginning. Hunter Maldonado and Wes Iwundu also made notable contributions, scoring 18 and 13 points, respectively. This win propelled the Phoenix’s season record to 13-6, solidifying their spot as one of the top teams in the league.
The match was marked by a series of challenges for the Bullets, who had just parted ways with head coach Stu Lash two days prior. Under interim coach Darryl McDonald, the team struggled, resulting in a staggering 28 turnovers, with Mitch Norton, Javon Freeman-Liberty, and Terry Taylor being the major contributors to the turnover count. Freeman-Liberty was the standout for Brisbane in terms of scoring with 17 points, but he faced difficulties with shooting, finishing at just 5-of-18.
Adding to the Bullets’ woes, forward Sam McDaniel, who has been plagued with injuries, could only manage seven points before leaving the game due to a leg issue. With a current record of 5-14, Brisbane is at a critical juncture, facing the reality of potentially missing the playoffs for the seventh consecutive year.
Despite some early struggles, SEM led 22-17 at the end of the first quarter and began to assert control in the second, extending their lead to 55-38 at halftime. The team’s resilient defense and effective shooting highlighted their superiority as they maintained momentum throughout the second half. Highlighting the game’s celebratory spirit, Phoenix development player Austin Foxwell captured the crowd’s excitement by scoring his first NBL points in the final minute.
This commanding victory not only enforces SEM’s strong position in the league but also raises questions about the future of the Bullets as they strive to recover from their ongoing struggles.