The South East Melbourne Phoenix rallied from adversity to secure a convincing victory over Melbourne United, winning 109-97 in the latest installment of the storied NBL rivalry known as the Throwdown. After falling behind by as many as 15 points early on, the Phoenix mounted a second-half comeback, demonstrating resilience and teamwork at John's Cain Arena. This victory marks the Phoenix's second consecutive win against United and improves their season record to 8-9, compared to United's declining 12-7.
Melbourne started the game strong, initially building up to a 15-point lead with the help of impressive shooting, including 36 points in the opening quarter. They led 36-24 after the first period, partly fueled by the performance of Ian Clark, who scored 20 points during the game. Despite this strong start, they struggled to maintain their edge.
The match turned decisively during the second half when Derrick Walton Jr., back from illness, energized the Phoenix squad with his strategic playmaking. Walton contributed 14 points, seven assists, and six rebounds, making significant plays especially when the game reached its boiling point.
After halftime, the Phoenix outscored United 32-20 during the third quarter. Coach Josh King remarked on the importance of the win, stating, "Every game is almost a do-or-die when you look at the ladder. We needed this one tonight, and I'm just really proud of the team effort."
The galvanizing second-half performance was sparked by pivotal contributions from Matt Hurt and Nathan Sobey, each of whom shone under pressure. Hurt ended the game with 28 points and six rebounds, shooting spectacularly at 12 of 15 from the field. Sobey matched his enthusiasm with 22 points, five rebounds, and six steals, emphasizing his role as both scorer and defender. Their performances were fundamental to reversing the fortunes for the Phoenix, who had found themselves trailing by double digits just before halftime.
"Happy for our guys and hopefully we can build on this," Coach King added, reflecting the growing confidence within the squad following consecutive wins over United.
The game showcased several moments of tension, one of which arose when Sobey and United's Rob Loe were entangled during the third quarter. Sobey managed to channel this energy positively, scoring 11 points in the period and adding to the Phoenix's already-growing momentum. It was clear he had shaken off any frustrations; by the end of the game, his performance illustrated both his offensive capability and defensive prowesses.
For United, their third consecutive loss raised alarms internally, with veteran player Matthew Dellavedova summarizing the team's disappointment candidly: "Three in-a-row is just unacceptable. Everyone's pretty pissed off, as we should be... there's no one to blame except for ourselves."
United's coach, Dean Vickerman, faced questions about the team's ability to return to form and mentioned the absence of key players, including star Chris Goulding, owing to injury. The team's struggles extended to their shooting performance as well; they finished the match shooting only 46 percent from the field compared to the Phoenix's superior 61 percent.
Returning to action following the setback, Melbourne will have to regroup quickly, as their next match is against the Tasmania JackJumpers on Monday.
The rivalry with the Phoenix continues to heat up, as illustrated by the exchanged comments during the week leading up to the game. Phoenix owner Romie Chaudhari's remarks about United's players flopping set the stage for added tension. Although Vickerman downplayed the impact of such comments, they fueled discussions leading up to the match and highlighted the competitive spirit and drama inherent within these two clubs.
Moving forward, both teams will need to adapt and solidify their strategies to vie for playoff positions. The Phoenix will be gearing up for their next challenge against the Adelaide 36ers. Their recent success could serve as the springboard needed to continue their upward momentum. Meanwhile, United's players and coaching staff must address recurring issues defensively and strategically before their next clash.
All eyes will be on the Phoenix's continued performance as they attempt to establish themselves firmly within the playoff picture as the season progresses.
