South East Melbourne Phoenix have revived their NBL playoff probabilities after snapping a five-game shedding streak with an important 86-75 victory over Tasmania JackJumpers to climb again into calculations for a berth within the league’s Play-In Tournament.
An upset loss to ninth-placed Brisbane on Monday noticed the Phoenix drop to seventh spot on the ladder however Simon Mitchell’s males produced one in every of their greatest defensive efforts of the season at Launceston’s Silverdome on Wednesday evening to make a well timed return to the winner’s record.
The outcome not solely allowed the Phoenix (13-12) to reclaim sixth spot from Melbourne United however sees Tasmania (13-11) drop to fifth because the race for post-season locations continues to tighten up.
South East Melbourne performed like a group combating for his or her playoff lives, holding the harmful JackJumpers offence to 32 factors within the first half earlier than keeping off each problem from the house facet down the stretch.
After main his facet to victory with 23 factors and 11 rebounds, captain Mitch Creek was happy to see the Phoenix safe a tricky highway victory after a sequence of heavy losses away from house.
“To fight like that here – Tassie are so good, they’re so deep, they’re so disciplined, they’re so good late in the shot clock.
“To (maintain them to) 75 factors … I’m so proud proper now,” Creek told ESPN after playing a key role in the Phoenix victory with his fourth double-double of the season.
South East Melbourne’s path to a top-six finish is a difficult one with home clashes against fourth-placed Perth and top-two aspirants Cairns followed by a trip to Sydney to face the top-ranked Kings.
“We know we have got to win each recreation. You drop 5 (video games) in a row, it is going to put you in a nasty spot however we have got a pair extra video games to go, two extra at house with sold-out crowds,” Creek said about the upcoming schedule.
“Looking ahead to getting house in entrance of the Phoenix trustworthy and getting a few wins there hopefully.”
Ryan Broekhoff connected twice from long distance in the opening minutes to hand South East Melbourne an ideal start and the defence took over to produce five JackJumpers turnovers to set up a 24-14 advantage.
Creek enjoyed a spirited back-and-forth with fellow former Adelaide 36er Jack McVeigh in the second period but it was the Phoenix winning the battle as they extended their lead to 46-32 at half-time thanks to a 30-19 rebounding edge that included 12 offensive boards.
Milton Doyle (16 factors) and McVeigh (15) fought valiantly as Tasmania tried to mount a second-half fightback, however Creek’s power and composed offence from Gary Browne (15) and Alan Williams helped information the Phoenix house.
