Kings make statement over Phoenix

The Sydney Kings wanted to get away from being the comeback masters in NBL25 and took significant strides with that by building a 23-point lead and holding on for the crucial 103-92 win over the South East Melbourne Phoenix.

The Kings had come from behind a host of times this season in their 15 victories including twice against the Phoenix, but had a better start on Wednesday night including a 36-point second quarter at the State Basketball Centre to set up the 11-point win.

Sydney blew the game wide open with 36 points to 23 in the second quarter to go into half-time leading 62-45 going 8/13 from downtown and 14/15 at the foul line while shooting 64 per cent.

The Phoenix managed just 35 per cent shooting in the first half and while Nathan Sobey had 21 points, Matt Hurt had just two on only four shot attempts before the Kings opened up a 23-point lead early in the second half.

South East Melbourne were back within 11 by three quarter-time and seven during the fourth, but Sydney had the answers to secure the win to close in on a top two spot at 16-10.

Kouat Noi produced another 24 points off the bench with 6/9 shooting from deep while Jaylen Adams shook off a sore back for seven of his 20 points in the fourth quarter with nine assists and four steals.

Cam Oliver added 16 points and seven rebounds, Bul Kuol a season-best 14 points, and Alex Toohey 10 points, four rebounds and while only credited with one steal, his quick hands were instrumental in plenty of the 15 points from turnovers.

"It was our best win of the year," Kings coach Brian Goorjian said.

"I like the way we've been practicing, I like the way we've been going moving forward and this thing's for the taking.

"And why not? We're in there, we're throwing punches."

The Phoenix remain in fifth at 14-11 having missed the chance to climb the table while shooting just 39 per cent as a team with gun forward Hurt struggling for just 11 points on 4/13 despite 10 rebounds.

Sobey ended up with 28 points and four assists with Owen Foxwell contributing 15 points and three assists, and Joe Wieskamp 11 points, eight rebounds and two blocks.

"They were clearly the better team tonight but we're a good basketball team and there's nothing to be ashamed of," Phoenix coach Josh King said.

"Sydney's a good team. I thought they played really inspired, much better than they had been playing.

"I think we bring the most out of Sydney, but we have to be better."

Bul Kuol might be just averaging 5.4 points for the season, but he had the first five of the game to give the Kings the fast start which turned into a 13-3 opening when he hit another three and Cam Oliver also landed from downtown.

South East Melbourne worked back into the contest from there after missing seven of their first eight shot attempts, and three-point makes from Angus Glover, Ben Ayre and Joe Wieskamp had them back within three.

It was Sydney still leading 26-22 by quarter-time on the back of going 11/12 at the foul line to 1/2 and as the second quarter rolled on, the Kings continued to build on that lead.

The Kings ended up outscoring the Phoenix 36 points to 23 for the quarter and it was a combination of them taking the ball to the rack and hitting the outside shots.

Sydney hit five three balls in the quarter including three of those to Noi and he went into half-time with 18 points to his name while Oliver had 14 with a couple of huge dunks on the passes from Jaylen Adams who had nine assists to go with his eight points.

The Kings were in control going into half-time leading 62-45 with 8/13 three-point shooting and going 14/15 at the foul line while the Phoenix were shooting just 35 per cent and only 12/16 at the foul line and 21 points from Sobey were stopping them being further behind.

The Kings then blew the game open further to start the second half with three balls from Izayah Le'afa and Adams and soon after the advantage was a game high 23 points and Josh King needed an early timeout.

His Phoenix team responded with back-to-back threes from Matt Kenyon and Owen Foxwell, and when Joe Wieskamp added another they were back within 14, and then 11 by three quarter-time.

An early dunk to Xavier Cooks and another three to Noi to start the fourth kept the visitors up by 14 and they would go on to secure the third straight win overall, and fourth in-a-row on the road.

The Phoenix play their third game this week at the State Basketball Centre when they host the Tasmania JackJumpers on Saturday while the Kings have the quick turnaround to host the Adelaide 36ers on Friday night.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2024/25

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE 92 (Sobey 28, Foxwell 15, Wieskamp 11, Hurt 11)

SYDNEY KINGS 103 (Noi 24, Adams 20, Oliver 16)

BOX SCORE