A career-best efficiency from Mitch Creek ensured South East Melbourne Phoenix outlasted the NBL ladder-leading Sydney Kings in an epic 113-112 double-overtime victory in Traralgon.
In one of the vital entertaining video games of the season, Creek scored 46 factors and pulled down 10 rebounds in virtually 48 minutes of court docket time as Sunday’s match-up at Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium became a battle of attrition.
Derrick Walton Jr tried valiantly to tug the Kings over the road, making a sequence of essential buckets in his 45-point haul, however he was unable to land the killer blow when his last-gasp three-pointer on the finish of double time beyond regulation missed the mark.
The Phoenix held a 113-110 lead earlier than a Walton Jr bounce shot made it a one-point recreation with one minute to play however neither group might discover the basket for the rest of the interval, the Phoenix holding on for his or her eleventh win of the season.
Creek was filled with reward for each groups after serving to drag the Phoenix over the end line in a basic contest.
“It was the craziest game I’ve ever been a part of, but at the same time, it never felt like either team was so far out of it or so far, not in control of each other’s games,” Creek mentioned.
Creek additionally took time to single out Walton Jr after the pair engaged in one of the vital enthralling one-on-one duels in current reminiscence.
“Just a huge shout out to Derrick – I said to him after the game that was an incredible battle and I was so proud to be a part of it,” Creek mentioned.
“You don’t get many moments like this in sport. I’ve played 12 seasons, 13 seasons, and that’s my first one that’s been like that – head-to-head with somebody for all 47-and-a-half minutes I played. Just an incredible experience to be a part of.”
The match-up between the groups ranked first and fourth on the ladder lived as much as expectations as the group in regional Victoria witnessed an exhilarating contest performed at a playoff-level depth.
Both groups suffered harm blows in the course of the match with Sydney’s Xavier Cooks enjoying eight minutes earlier than exiting with ankle soreness whereas the Phoenix misplaced starters Gary Browne, Ryan Broekhoff and Trey Kell III.
Sydney piled on 35 factors within the second quarter to show a seven-point deficit right into a sizeable 53-45 halftime lead, Walton Jr fuelling the offence with 21 factors on 7-of-9 capturing.
But Creek’s pressure of will and a sequence of spectacular defensive performs from reserve guard Owen Foxwell noticed the Phoenix come roaring again, the match going into time beyond regulation after Walton Jr couldn’t join on a game-winning drive within the ultimate moments of regulation.
