Sobey stars as Phoenix hand Taipans heavy defeat at John Cain Arena
Two days removed from a ten-point loss at Brisbane Entertainment Centre against the Bullets, SEM Phoenix returned to John Cain Arena with hopes they could turn their fortunes around with their third win of the season. In their way were the rejuvenated Cairns Taipans, on a three-game winning streak after a high-scoring victory against Illawarra on Sunday.
To the surprise of many, Josh King elected to bring Skylar Mays off the bench for the first time this season, despite the import guard entering the game as the Phoenix's second-leading scorer, while also leading the team in assists. Without Mays in the starting lineup, Nathan Sobey carried the responsibility of scoring on his shoulders, with fifteen of South East Melbourne's 27 first-quarter points.
At the other end, Jonah Bolden continued his impressive form off the bench for Cairns, scoring eleven points as the Taipans led 35-27 at quarter-time.
Despite a strong start for the visitors, the Phoenix clawed their way back into the game after quarter-time, leading 62-54 after the first half, with seven three-pointers in the second quarter. Even at 36 years of age, Nathan Sobey was showing his class, leading the game in all three major statistical categories at half-time with 24 points, six rebounds and five assists.
South East Melbourne refused to take their foot off the pedal after half-time, stretching the margin out to 26 points at the end of the third quarter. By the end of the game, the lead was 32 points, as the Phoenix silenced their doubters in style with a 115-83 victory.
Nathan Sobey only added five points to his tally after half-time, though was still the game's leading scorer with 29 points to go along with eight rebounds and six assists. Elsewhere for the Phoenix, Jordan Hunter, back in the lineup after the birth of his child, impressed with nineteen points and eleven rebounds, while Yannis Morin also left the court with a double-double of his own, recording eleven points and ten rebounds.
Jonah Bolden continued his impressive form with a team-high seventeen points, while Reyne Smith trailed behind him with fourteen, but fatigue was ultimately too much for the Taipans, who have played more away games than anyone else in the NBL so far this season, which coach Adam Forde acknowledged.
"Our first games, seven (were) on the road. And I'm not saying this as an excuse, I love that because guys are hanging out with each other. It sucks with our points percentage, but if you told me at the start of the season that I could be 4-4 at this point with our schedule, I'll be happy with that."
Meanwhile, Phoenix coach Josh King was happy with the way his team recovered after their loss in Brisbane.
"From our worst performance of the year to our best performance. It's frustrating because we haven't played this style or the style we're capable of until probably today. It's taken eight games, but it was a nice response from the guys. I'm proud of their effort, coming back and playing on such short turnaround, but we need more of this and we're capable of this."
The Taipans now fly home, where they'll hope to return to winning ways against the Breakers next Sunday, while the Phoenix will welcome their fans back to John Cain Arena once again for a matchup against the 36ers next Saturday.