NBL, round 6 news, results: Phoenix fire for second straight win after horror start to the year

New Phoenix coach Josh King will walk into an outfit “feeling good” after the Phoenix netted a second win in a row, by taking down the red-hot New Zealand Breakers on their home court.

New South East Melbourne coach Josh King will be walking into an outfit “feeling good” after the Phoenix netted a second win in a row, and second of the season, by taking down the red-hot New Zealand Breakers on their home court.

Pulling the pin on former coach Mike Kelly, after an ugly 0-5 start to the season, looks more and more like the right thing to do after recording a mood-lifting 88-62 victory lifted by 26-points from the bench including 13 from Ben Ayre.

With interim coach Sam Mackinnon still in charge, having enjoyed a shock win over Melbourne United in his first game, the Phoenix burst out of the blocks with a 27-point opening quarter and never relented.

Ben Ayre came off the bench and had 13 points for the Phoenix. Picture: Getty Images

Matt Hurt had a team-high 19 points for the visiting team which was playing without start point guard Derrick Walton Jr who is expected to miss at least the next few games with a hamstring injury suffered against Melbourne United.

“Feeling good now,” aid Angus Glover, who had 13 points off the bench himself.

“We put ourselves in that position to be 0-5 and we’re trying to claw back to where we need to be.

“Good start to the weekend, now we’ve got to try and get Illawarra.”

Angus Glover delivers a fiery slam dunk for the Phoenix. Picture: Getty Images

That’s the next challenge for the Phoenix, who will have home court advantage in Saturday’s clash with the ladder-leading Hawks, still without new coach King who is expected to be in charge when they face the JackJumpers in Tasmania next Friday night.

Jonah Bolden leaves the court for the Breakers. Picture: Getty Images

Glover, who joined the Phoenix after winning two titles with the Sydney Kings, conceded it took his time to adjust to his new team but he was starting to find his feet and earn the trust of his teammates.

“I haven’t shot the ball too well at the start of the year,” he said after his season-high performance.

“I’ve always got that confidence as a shooter to go out and shoot. The guys are trusting me to play a bit of point guard at the moment, so it’s giving me even more confidence. I’m having fun with it.”

Originally published as NBL, round 6 news, results: Phoenix fire for second straight win after horror start to the year