NBL Week 17: Perth Wildcats defeat SEM Phoenix, Adelaide 36ers win 88-71 over Cairns Taipans
Melbourne United have spent the last month on the road, but have come away with seven wins. They were brought back to earth by the Sydeny Kings on Sunday.
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Melbourne United’s seven-game road stretch ended in defeat as the Sydney Kings ran out 98 to 86 victors at Qudos Bank Arena courtesy of a second quarter blitz.
United looked sluggish having not played at home for more than a month and they were never able to make serious inroads after the Kings opened up a 15 point half time lead with a 36 point second quarter.
United shot at 39% from the field and 20% from three point range with stars Matthew Dellavedova (2-8 attempts from the field including 0-4 from three-point range), Ian Clark (3-12 including 0-4 three-point attempts) and Chris Goulding (3-13 including 2-13 three-point attempts) having an off afternoon.
It was a heated contest between the fierce rivals with Kings captain Shaun Bruce involved in confrontations with Dellavedova and Jo Lual-Acuil Jr in the final quarter which led to technical fouls.
The Kings increased their physicality following their shock loss to the South East Melbourne Phoenix on Thursday and displayed the form that lifted them to the past two NBL championships.
Makauch Maluach came off the bench to lead the Kings in scoring with 18 points at 63% from the field and their bench strength was pivotal.
Bruce chalked up 12 points to go with his five assists and his ability to get under the skin of the United players, while centre Jonah Bolden also came on and made an impact with 10 points and seven rebounds.
He combined with starting big man Jordan Hunter (12 points at 100% and nine rebounds) to get the better of United pair Ariel Hukporti and Jo Lual-Acuil Jr under the rim and no doubt impress three-time NBA champion centre Luc Longley who was courtside.
One-time MVP Jaylen Adams (16 points) and former Chicago Bull, Cleveland Cavalier and Utah Jazz forward Denzel Valentine (15 points and nine assists) were also instrumental.
For United, Luke Travers could hold his head high with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
United remain top of the ladder with a top-two spot locked in and they are yet to lose consecutive games this season as they return home for the Throwdown against the Phoenix on Saturday.
The Kings meanwhile sit fourth on the table and are entrenched in the fight for a play-in tournament berth.
SARR OF THE SHOW SETS UP WILDCATS’ WIN
- Lance Jenkinson
Perth Wildcats’ Next Star Alex Sarr had the NBA scouts salivating on a career night, producing a scintillating performance in his side’s 103-91 win over an undermanned but dogged South East Melbourne Phoenix at the State Basketball Centre in Melbourne on Saturday night.
Sarr, touted as a potential No. 1 pick in this year’s NBA draft, showed his incredible talent, athleticism, speed and smarts on both ends of the floor to play a significant role in the Wildcats creating separation on the scoreboard from the second quarter onwards.
The 18-year-old from France put up career highs 18 points and five blocks.
Just as incredible as his denial at the rim of Phoenix youngster Kody Stattmann was Sarr’s ability to defend effectively both at the perimeter and in the paint.
On offence, Sarr showed his length and basketball IQ, finding a way to the hoop with efficiency, including a dunk that had fans of both teams to their feet.
Providing a glimpse into his future, Sarr would seem to have stardom written in the cards.
The Wildcats registered their fifth consecutive road win, improving to 16-8 to remain hot on the heels of ladder-leaders Melbourne United in the chase for top spot, but Sarr’s display will live long in the memory.
Stattmann, the young star in Thursday’s big win over the Kings, launched two long bombs from three to kickstart the Phoenix.
The Phoenix were a little off defensively though and the Wildcats took full advantage.
Bryce Cotton, who had an off night in the Wildcats win-streak snapping loss to Illawarra on Thursday, was locked in from the outset.
The veteran guard carved his way to the paint with ease under little pressure from the Phoenix.
His acceleration off the dribble was too hot for the Phoenix to handle in the first half and he finished with 21 points and eight assists.
The hole in the Phoenix defence created by the season-ending injury to Alan Williams saw Sarr and Wildcats starting centre Keanu Pinder feast in the paint as the Wildcats built a 19-point lead midway through the second.
Oh no
There was a scary moment for Pinder, returning to the venue he suffered a facial fracture last season, when he got posted up by Phoenix centre Gorjok Gak and copped a heavy blow to the face.
A little shaken, Pinder stayed in the game to produce a commanding showing with a double double 23 points and 11 rebounds.
Despite the discrepancy on the scoreboard, the Phoenix were not about to simply roll over.
Courageous Creek
Phoenix captain Mitch Creek went to the bench with a limp for a meeting with the physio after landing awkwardly on a drive.
But Creek returned to the court and it immediately lifted the Phoenix, who trimmed the deficit to 13 by half time with Creek leading the way with 18 of his game-high 29 points in the first half.
The Phoenix continued to chip away in the third quarter with guard Ben Ayre, stepping up in the absence of the injured Gary Browne, showcasing his finishing and playmaking skills with 23 points and eight assists.
The unfancied hosts showed tremendous heart, trailing by just 10 at three quarter time, but the Wildcats found a way to secure the win in David Okwera’s 50th NBL game.
NINNIS CONTINUES 36ers’ STUNNING SEASON TURNAROUND
- Jason Phelan
The surging Adelaide 36ers’ stunning season turnaround under interim coach Scott Ninnis continued with a commanding win over the Cairns Taipans, DJ Vasiljevic starring as the Sixers kept their finals hopes alive with a third victory in a row.
Ninnis felt his team owed the Taipans one after the 36ers led by as much as 16 points in the third quarter of their last meeting in Cairns a fortnight ago only to lose in overtime.
The Sixers led by 22 points at the end of the third quarter in front of another sellout crowd at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Saturday night and didn’t let this one slip, making it five wins from their past six games.
Adelaide got it done in impressive fashion at the defensive end, while Vasiljevic hit a game-high 28 points, including five three-pointers.
The 36ers moved out of last place on the ladder with the result, which improved their record to 10-14, while the inconsistent Taipans slipped to 11-14 and dropped out of the top six.
FIRST-HALF FLEX
The Sixers edged in front by three points at the first break and took command in the second quarter, blowing the margin out to 15 at halftime to make it seven games in a row where they’ve taken the lead into the second half.
Vasiljevic led the charge with 11 points in the first quarter and a game-high 17 at the main break.
As the 36ers muscled their way on top in the second, the Taipans crumbled with just 2-from-15 shooting to be 11-from-35 for the half at just 31 per cent to Adelaide’s 22-from-44.
Patrick Miller was the main offender for the wayward visitors, the import 0-from-8 from the field at the half, finishing with eight points on 2-from15 shooting.
The Taipans recorded their lowest second-quarter score of the season as the Sixers snatched the momentum in a 25-13 term.
One of the few negatives for the home side was an unsuccessful coach’s challenge by Ninnis after Jacob Wiley was whistled for a charge late in the first half.
“I’m not very good with this challenge stuff … I think I’m about 1-for-10 so far,” a smiling Ninnis was captured saying on the ESPN broadcast.
A dirty night for Cairns got worse in the last quarter, with Akoldah Gak and Josh Roberts fouling out and Sam Waardenburg, in his return from a concussion absence, leaving the match after copping a blow to the head.
FINALS MIX
With the three other teams outside the top six heading into Round 17 – South East Melbourne, Illawarra and New Zealand – all recording upset wins, Saturday’s clash had significant implications for Adelaide’s season.
That trio improved to 10 wins with those results, with the shock win over the reigning champion Sydney Kings by the undermanned Phoenix on Thursday also dropping the Sixers back to the bottom of the standings.
Ninnis said that the Sixers had no margin for error after they recorded back-to-back road wins last week, but with four games remaining Adelaide is right in the finals mix.
After starting the season 0-4, the Sixers face the Kings at home, the JackJumpers and the Brisbane Bullets away then host New Zealand, with a remarkable finals berth their reward if the wins keep coming.
BIG MAN DOMINATES BULLETS AS UNITED OPEN TWO GAME BUFFER
—Jake Garland
Melbourne United have extended their winning streak to 11 in a row over the Brisbane Bullets in a 93-77 victory at Nissan Arena.
Brisbane had the chance to put themselves into third spot after earlier in the night New Zealand upset Tasmania.
United big man Jo Lual-Acuil Jr led the way with a career high 33 points and 13 rebounds, was strongly supported by Chris Goulding with 23 points and Shea Ili with 6 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists.
It blew out to an 11-point lead midway through the second before Brisbane pegged back to trail by four with just three and a half minutes remaining.
But it would be Melbourne who again would extend the lead, pushing it to 11-points at the half time break.
United’s big man JLA had a massive third quarter, pushing Melbourne’s lead out to 15 points.
It almost boiled over between JLA and Brisbane’s Aron Baynes in the last quarter, as Luai-Acuil continued to dominate Baynes throughout the night.
The win pushes Melbourne to a two-game buffer over second placed Perth Wildcats who play South-East Melbourne on Saturday and United taking on Sydney Kings on Sunday.
While the loss for Brisbane could very well see them drop to sixth by the end of round 17.
BIG MAN, BIG GAME
Jo Lual-Acuil Jr returned to the United line up with a massive bang, dropping 33 in his first game back.
Every time the Bullets would pull the score back to single digits, JLA would bob up and make a big time play pushing the lead back out.
United’s big man finished with 13 rebounds to go with his 70 shooting percentage.
It was a different night for his direct opponent in Aron Baynes who managed just 6 points and just 4 rebounds.
A TALE OF TWO HALVES
Brisbane captain Nathan Sobey had a horrible first half, going into the break with just three points to his name.
Those three points came from the free throw line, where he shot at 50 per cent.
Sobey dropped his first basket midway through the third quarter and lifted the home side.
He turned it on at times in the second half, still not shooting at his best, finishing with 19 points at 28 per cent from the field, with 10 points from the free throw line.
NBL SCOREBOARD
MELBOURNE UNITED – Lual-Acuil 31, Goulding 23, Dellavedova 8 def BRISBANE BULLETS Sobey 19, McDaniel 12, Prather 9.
Run home:
United – Kings (A), Phoenix (H), Breakers (H), Taipans (A), Hawks (H)
Bullets – Hawks (A), 36ers (H), Breakers (A)
UNDER FIRE KINGS COACH’S DECLARATION AFTER PHOENIX FLOP
– Lance Jenkinson
Sydney Kings coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah is calling on his high-profile NBA-calibre players to take on more leadership responsibilities as they strive to lock up a spot in the NBL play-in games.
His call comes with forward Jaylin Galloway in doubt for the clash with Melbourne United after hearing a pop in his shoulders during the Phoenix game.
“Hopefully, it’s nothing too bad, but we’ll get it checked out,” Galloway said.
Following the Kings’ embarrassing 104-98 loss to an injury-depleted South East Melbourne Phoenix in Melbourne on Thursday night, Abdelfattah felt the team lacked players willing to take the bull by the horns and point the way.
Abdelfattah knows how talented former NBA players Jaylen Adams, Denzel Valentine and Jonah Bolden are with the ball in hand, but he is calling on them to expand their roles to become better leaders.
“I’m expecting more from those guys to help lead the younger guys,” Abdelfattah said.
“(Show them) what they’ve been through to get to where they are and what it takes to be successful.”
The Kings will need to harden up if they are to defend their home court against ladder leaders Melbourne United at Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday.
Abdelfattah felt his team sat in too much and were far too relaxed against the Phoenix.
He is calling on his players to be more physical in their approach.
“They just weren’t feeling us,” Abdelfattah said.
“We were supposed to pick up pressure full court, they weren’t feeling us, they weren’t feeling us in the pick and roll coverages, they weren’t feeling our full court pressure, we let them get to their spots, they were too comfortable and we let some of their role players get going.
“They were prepared, they set the tone and we didn’t.
“I’ve been a part of a ton of games where you’re down 20 or up 20, guys have their full squad, second unit, it doesn’t matter, you’ve just have to come and play.
“If you let anybody gain confidence, it changes the entire ball game and we let some of those guys do that.”
Despite coming off one of the club’s worst losses in recent times and slumping to a fifth defeat in six games, Abdelfattah believes the Kings still have a lot more to give this season.
“We still have a great opportunity ahead of us,” he said.
UPSET OF THE SEASON AS PHOENIX STUN KINGS
South East Melbourne Phoenix has pulled off the upset of the NBL season and heaped more pressure on two-time defending champions Sydney Kings in a 104-98 boilover at the State Basketball Centre in Melbourne on Thursday night.
A skeleton staff took to the court for the Phoenix with starting calibre players Alan Williams, Craig Moller, Gary Browne and Matt Kenyon out injured, and import Abdel Nader unable to take to the court as he suited up with a hand injury.
Somehow, against all odds, the Phoenix found a way, ending a horror run of five straight heavy losses to pick up their first win for 2024 in front of a sold out crowd.
Inspirational captain Mitch Creek put on his Superman cape in a stellar display to lead Phoenix with 31 points, 10 rebounds and three steals.
In a nerve-racking fourth quarter, Phoenix development player Kody Stattmann, who surprised with 16 points and six rebounds, launched two vital threes, Ben Ayre, who exploded with 23 points, continued his offensive threat and a late Owen Foxwell drive when the Kings had cut a 14-point deficit to four put the exclamation mark on one of the great wins in club history.
Despite entering on the back of four losses from their past five games, the Kings were raging hot favourites to win the game, but their misery continued in an unthinkable defeat that put their top six spot under threat, having slumped to 11-13 on the season.
There was a fearlessness about the Phoenix from the outset.
You wouldn’t have thought this was a severely undermanned team that had lost its past nine first halves when they marched confidently to halftime with an unthinkable 61-54 lead.
MAGNIFICENT MITCH
Anything is possible when you have superstar Creek on your side.
Creek was unstoppable with 25 points in the first half, pointing the way for his younger teammates.
It was obvious that there would be a heavy dose, but the lacklustre Kings were powerless to stop his aggressive moves to the basket.
While Creek was the go-to man for the Phoenix, the momentum of a nine-point quarter time lead seemed to lift his teammates.
In particular, youngsters Luke Rosendale, who showed off his silky smooth shot with eight points, and Foxwell, with 12 points, who is always a terrier in the back court.
ADAMS LEADS CHARGE
The Kings were kept in the game because of one man – 2021-22 NBL most valuable player Jaylen Adams.
Adams not only created his own shots, but got his teammates involved with 16 points and five assists in the first half.
He finished with a team-high 24 points and nine assists.
With his team staring down the barrel, Adams sparked a 10-2 run at the start of the second.
LOOK AT NOI
Kouat Noi’s influence off the bench with 19 points was handy for the Kings, particularly with star Denzel Valentine in foul trouble early.
The forward offered a secondary scoring outlet to ease the burden on Adams.
The Phoenix could do no wrong at the start of the third as the lead blew out to a game-high 18.
While the Kings tried their utmost to erode the deficit, it was too bigger deficit to climb and the Phoenix completed a famous win.
NBL SCOREBOARD
South East Melbourne Phoenix 104 (Creek 31 Ayre 23 Stattmann 16) d Sydney Kings 98 (Adams 24 Noi 19 Valentine 13)
At the State Basketball Centre, Melbourne.
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Originally published as NBL Week 17: Perth Wildcats defeat SEM Phoenix, Adelaide 36ers win 88-71 over Cairns Taipans
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