South East Melbourne v Melbourne: Talking points & watch live

Saturday, August 23, 2025

With new-look rosters, fresh signings, and plenty of firepower, both sides will be eager to test combinations before the Code Sports NBL Blitz tips off next week.

It's an early edition of the Throwdown, albeit without the normal high stakes of a regular-season game. Even so, both teams will be looking to put their new-look rosters to the text ahead of next week's Code Sports NBL Blitz.

The State Basketball Centre will be packed out as the Phoenix head back to the Heartland, and a big clash against their arch-rivals.

South East Melbourne v Melbourne
Saturday, August 23, 2025 - 6.30pm AEST
State Basketball Centre

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Magnificent Milton
United’s newest addition flashed his brilliance on Thursday night against Cairns, pouring in 22 points and filling up the stat sheet everywhere else.

Doyle looks refreshed and energised in new colours, and if fans remember the damage he caused when he first arrived in the NBL, perhaps he’s set for another All-NBL campaign.

Three-point barrage
United and Phoenix both have a lot of firepower, particularly in the form of outside shooting.

Melbourne took 38 threes against Cairns on Thursday, connecting on 15 of those attempts. The Phoenix will be hoping to continue to get their reps into new faces Vrenz Bleijenbergh and Hunter Maldonado, while also getting their new core - including DJ Mitchell and Akech Aliir - some more meaningful minutes.

Play it DJ
DJ Mitchell is back in the NBL after spending some time abroad, and if he continues the form he had on Tuesday, Phoenix fans will be stoked.

The lively power forward top-scored for his team with 19 points and pulled down seven rebounds to go with it. He connected on 5/7 threes in a performance that would have made Josh King smile, as he was very high on luring Mitchell back to the NBL.