Phoenix compound Bullets woes with huge win

The South East Melbourne Phoenix took full advantage of a disjointed Brisbane Bullets by forcing them into an NBL season-high 28 turnovers and to hammer them 107-78 to send them to last place in the standings.

The Phoenix were back home at John Cain Arena for Saturday night's open air game fresh off a stirring comeback win in Perth on Thursday night as they hosted a Bullets team in freefall and having had a dramatic week.

Following a sixth straight defeat to Perth on Sunday, Bullets coach Stu Lash stepped down and has been replaced in the interim by NBL legend and three-time championship winner Darryl McDonald who was back in Melbourne to coach his first game.

It turned into a nightmare debut for McDonald and the Bullets with the hounding pressure of the Phoenix forcing them into 28 turnovers which combined with shooting 37 per cent from the field meant they couldn’t stay in the contest.

The injuries continued to mount too with both Sam McDaniel and Taine Murray going down hurt, and South East Melbourne showed no mercy to end up winning by 29 points on 50 per cent field goal shooting.

The Phoenix also went 29/42 at the foul line and after coughing up eight turnovers in the first quarter, had just four for the rest of the game as they consolidate third spot at 13-6.

The Bullets did hang in there in the first quarter with those eight Phoenix turnovers helping that, but once the home team took care of the ball and found their groove, they soon pulled away with 33-21 in the second period to be up 55-38 at the half.

It was another 25-12 in the third frame with the Phoenix lead getting out to as much as 35 and they had some fun late including Austin Foxwell hitting the floor to score his first NBL points in the dying seconds.

Nathan Sobey continued his career best form at 35 years of age with another 20 points and eight assists with Hunter Maldonado ending up with 18 points, five boards, two assists and two steals.

Wes Iwundu also provided 13 points, Angus Glover 10 points and two rebounds, and Akech Aliir nine points and four boards.

The Bullets have now fallen to last place at 5-14 with seven straight defeats by an average of 22 points.

There wasn’t a whole lot for Brisbane to be enthused about with Javon Freeman-Liberty top-scoring with 17 points but it took him 5/18 shooting while he also had five turnovers.

Jacob Holt was a shining light again with the rookie big man having 10 points and five rebounds with Tyrell Harrison ending up with nine points, 11 boards, three blocks and two steals.

The Bullets now head back home to play host to the New Zealand Breakers on Monday night looking for a second victory at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre for NBL26 while the Phoenix don't play again until being away to the Tasmania JackJumpers the following Monday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 107 (Sobey 20, Maldonado 18, Iwundu 13)

BRISBANE BULLETS 78 (Freeman-Liberty 17, Holt 10, Harrison 9)

BOX SCORE