Craig Moller hurt as Phoenix overrun Breakers

The South East Melbourne Phoenix have overcome the loss of unlucky forward Craig Moller to another serious knee injury to post a 90-79 NBL win over the New Zealand Breakers.

Mitch Creek fired a personal season-high 26 points as the Phoenix returned to action at John Cain Arena on Saturday after the FIBA break, improving their season record to 7-6.

But the home side's celebrations were tempered after Moller hurt his right knee during the first quarter and had to be helped off the court.

He played no further part, finishing the game on crutches, and will be sent for scans on Sunday to determine the extent of the damage.

The 29-year-old cross-code athlete, who played one AFL game for Fremantle before turning to pro basketball, was previously sidelined for almost 18 months after shattering his left kneecap during an April 2022 game in Germany.

"It doesn't look great for Craig. Everyone's gone in and just said their condolences to him," Phoenix assistant coach Sam Mackinnon told ESPN at halftime.

"He looks like he's going to be out for some considerable time, unfortunately.

"He's worked so hard to get back from that (previous) injury, so fingers crossed it's not as bad as it looks."

It wasn't until the fourth quarter when the Phoenix were able to breakaway from New Zealand, though, with the Breakers coming off a win against the Adelaide 36ers on Thursday night in Christchurch.

A gruelling travel schedule to get to Melbourne to play less than 48 hours later against a fresh opponent meant that the Breakers simply ran out of legs in the finish, highlighted as their shooting percentages plummeted the longer the game went, including going 7-of-26 from three-point territory.

Three days after he was ejected for remonstrating with officials during a win over the Adelaide 36ers, Breakers coach Mody Maor again had his blood boiling with his side on the wrong side of the whistle early in Melbourne.

There were frustrations for the visitors as starters Parker Jackson-Cartwright and Finn Delany both racked up three fouls before halftime, though they led 45-41 at the main break.

The advantage swelled to six points during the third period before Creek helped wrest control for the Phoenix, producing his game-high points tally on 10-of-15 shooting.

Star import Alan Williams (10 points, 14 rebounds, eight assists) was also influential and Will Cummings (15 points) provided punch off the bench.

Izayah Le'afa (17 points) continued his strong form off the bench for the Kiwis, while Anthony Lamb (14 points, seven rebounds) and Jackson-Cartwright (14 points, seven assists) were busy.

The Breakers (4-8) have now lost 14 of their last 15 games at John Cain Arena.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 9

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 90 (Creek 26, Cummings 15, Browne 12)

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 79 (Le’afa 17, Jackson-Cartwright 14, Lamb 14)

BOX SCORE