Wieskamp fires Phoenix to win over Kings

Cam Oliver and Alex Toohey combined for 45 points and seven triples for the Sydney Kings, but the South East Melbourne Phoenix prevailed 113-101 with imports Joe Wieskamp and Matt Hurt putting up 42 themselves.

It was a high scoring spectacle on the Gold Coast at the NBL Blitz to close Wednesday night's action with the two teams combining for 67 points in the first quarter and 64 in the second.

The Kings led by as much as 14 points, but the Phoenix overpowered them throughout the second half with import duo Wieskamp (24 points, 5/6 three-point shooting) and Hurt (18 points, four rebounds, four assists) leading the way for the eventual 12-point victory.

South East Melbourne made a flying start with the first seven points including five straight to Wieskamp, but Sydney quickly warmed to the task with their own 18-6 run topped off by a three-point bomb from Izayah Le'afa.

Keli Leaupepe also hit a couple of first quarter three balls for the Kings and by quarter-time they were leading 36-31.

The high level scoring continued in the second quarter and by half-time that saw the Kings go into the break leading 68-63.

Sydney went at 57 per cent from the field for the half and 17/19 at the foul line with 11/20 from deep while South East Melbourne maintained pace going at 59 per cent overall and 14/18 at the charity stripe.

The Phoenix had fought back from being 14 points down in the second quarter and then kept that momentum going into the third quarter beginning with a three ball from former Sydney Grand Final MVP Derrick Walton Jr.

Wieskamp then dropped a couple of three balls, Matt Hurt hit another and the Phoenix pushed out to their own seven-point lead, but Sydney again hit back.

Wieskamp pushed the Phoenix back out to a seven-point edge with two more threes to open the fourth period and from there they went on to win by 12 on shooting 55 per cent as a team and making 14/34 from downtown.

Nathan Sobey added 20 points, three rebounds and three assists for South East Melbourne with Derrick Walton Jr putting up 13 points and seven assists, Owen Foxwell 12 points, and Angus Glover 10 points, two rebounds and two assists against the team he won two titles with.

Sydney were without Jaylen Adams and Kouat Noi, but still will take plenty from it with Alex Toohey knocking down 4/4 from beyond the arc for 26 points.

Cam Oliver also had 19 points and six rebounds with 3/5 three-point shooting while Shaun Bruce added 11 points and two assists, Xavier Cooks nine points and six rebounds, and Izaya Le'afa nine points, six boards and six assists.

Both teams have another game to go on the Gold Coast with the Phoenix first up on Friday against the Adelaide 36ers before the Kings take on the New Zealand Breakers later that evening.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL BLITZ

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 113 (Wieskamp 24, Sobey 20, Hurt 18)

SYDNEY KINGS 101 (Toohey 26, Oliver 19, Bruce 11)

BOX SCORE