Cook leads Phoenix fightback over Kings

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Tyler Cook sparked the South East Melbourne Phoenix to come back from 21 points down to beat the Sydney Kings at the NBL Blitz.

Another spectacular performance from Tyler Cook inspired the South East Melbourne Phoenix to the 93-86 comeback victory against the defending NBL champion Sydney Kings.

The Kings were making their first appearance at the NBL Blitz on the Gold Coast and were mighty impressive in the first half with Jaylin Galloway especially strong as they opened up a 21-point lead.

However, the Phoenix fired back in the second half in their second game at the Gold Coast Convention Centre. Gary Browne was a spark as he knocked down six three-pointers on the night, but it was Cook who was the star.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tyler Cook is too explosive ? <br><br>Watch every game live & free via Kayo Freebies ? <br><br>Outside Australia? Watch via ?? <a href="https://t.co/8LoWsbR7E4">https://t.co/8LoWsbR7E4</a> <a href="https://t.co/i0OAfpTGeZ">pic.twitter.com/i0OAfpTGeZ</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1703713687859585218?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Signed as an injury replacement for Alan Williams, the excitement machine showed just why he has 65 games of NBA experience behind him and could still have plenty more.

The 25-year-old forward did a bit of everything in the comeback victory for the Phoenix and he capped the night off by sealing the deal at both ends of the floor.

He made a pretty fadeaway jumper late to stretch the South East Melbourne lead to five and then blocked the shot at the rim up the other end soon after on Kings Next Star Alex Toohey to secure the seven-point triumph for the Phoenix.

It was a first win of the Blitz on the Gold Coast for South East Melbourne after Saturday’s first up loss to the Tasmania JackJumpers.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RP_1bD1A-XU?si=dwGINlsZCdINO1O9" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Cook will again be the major talking point with just how impressive he is looking in the absence of Williams, finishing with 29 points, nine rebounds and three steals on 10/13 shooting from the floor and 9/13 at the free-throw line.

Gary Browne was also outstanding for the Phoenix with 26 points and three assists while knocking down 6/11 from behind the three-point line with his team still missing Mitch Creek, Gorjok Gak, Matt Kenyon and Williams.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Our <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBL</a> Next Star <a href="https://twitter.com/tooheyy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tooheyy</a> is ??????'<br><br>Watch the <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBL</a> Blitz live & free on<a href="https://twitter.com/kayosports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kayosports</a> Freebies. <br><br>International viewers can watch at <a href="https://t.co/247aEbfR0b">https://t.co/247aEbfR0b</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheKings?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeTheKings</a> <a href="https://t.co/Afc6UMc7z6">pic.twitter.com/Afc6UMc7z6</a></p>— Sydney Kings (@SydneyKings) <a href="https://twitter.com/SydneyKings/status/1703717524125401330?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Ben Ayre stepped up as well for 18 points with Will Cummings contributing 11 points, three rebounds and two steals.

There’s certainly no reason for concern at the Kings for new coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah especially considering how good they looked in the first half piling on 51 points and opening up a 21-point advantage.

That was without superstar pair Jaylen Adams and DJ Hogg as well, and it was their first hit out at the NBL Blitz of the week.

Jaylin Galloway showed he’s ready to go to another level in NBL24 top-scoring for Sydney with 18 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals with new import forward Denzel Valentine delivering 17 points and 11 rebounds despite eight turnovers.

Next Star Alex Toohey looked encouraging with 12 points, four rebounds and three assists with new captain Shaun Bruce adding nine points and five assists, Jordan Hunter nine points, five boards and four assists, and Kouat Noi eight points and three rebounds.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Niiiccceee Gaaarrryyy!?<br><br>Our spark guy up to 2??6?? points so far ??<br><br>? Watch live and free on Kayo Freebies <a href="https://t.co/s0ntB3NkCE">pic.twitter.com/s0ntB3NkCE</a></p>— South East Melbourne Phoenix (@SEMelbPhoenix) <a href="https://twitter.com/SEMelbPhoenix/status/1703728183714152757?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Both teams again play on Wednesday with the Phoenix wrapping up their time at the Blitz on the Gold Coast playing the Cairns Taipans first up. The Kings will play Melbourne United later on Wednesday night before finishing up on Friday night against the Brisbane Bullets.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL BLITZ

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 93 (Cook 29, Browne 26, Ayre 18)
SYDNEY KINGS 86 (Galloway 18, Valentine 17, Toohey 12)

BOX SCORE