The South East Melbourne Phoenix kept their NBL playoff aspirations burning bright with a crucial 113-102 victory over the cellar-dwelling Cairns Taipans on Tuesday night. The win improved the Phoenix’s record to 13-10, allowing them to maintain their tenuous hold on fifth place in the hotly contested standings.
But the triumph was tempered by the devastating news that star import guard Derrick Walton Jr will miss the remainder of the NBL regular season with a hamstring injury suffered in their previous win against Brisbane. In Walton’s absence, the Phoenix turned to an unlikely hero to carry the scoring load and secure the vital win.
Hurt Rises to the Occasion
Enter Matt Hurt, the unassuming American forward who is rapidly making a case for NBL Most Valuable Player consideration. The 6’9″ former Duke standout erupted for a game-high 33 points on a scorching 77% shooting from the field, punishing the Taipans’ porous interior defense with an array of crafty post moves and thunderous dunks.
“He doesn’t say anything, just plays ball,” Phoenix head coach Josh King said of Hurt, who put on a show for his visiting parents from Minnesota. “He’s a guy that’s not getting enough attention, but that’s okay.”
Josh King, Phoenix head coach
Hurt became the first Phoenix player to notch consecutive 30+ point performances, backing up his 36-point outburst against the Bullets with another dominant display. His stellar play is a major reason the Phoenix remain in the postseason hunt despite the injury to Walton.
Sobey Shines in Cairns Return
While Hurt provided the early fireworks, it was a familiar face who slammed the door on the Taipans’ comeback hopes. Former Cairns guard Nathan Sobey, who began his NBL career with the Taipans 11 years ago, torched his old team for 26 points and 7 rebounds, including a dagger 3-pointer in the fourth quarter that effectively sealed the win.
Sobey’s stellar play continued a sizzling stretch that has seen him score 22+ points in seven of his past nine games. His veteran leadership and shot creation have been invaluable to a Phoenix squad searching for offensive consistency.
Taipans’ Tumble Continues
For the struggling Taipans, the loss was their 17th in the past 18 games, further cementing their status as the NBL’s cellar dwellers. Promising rookie guard Taran Armstrong led Cairns with 20 points and 6 assists, while stretch forward Sam Waardenburg added 22 points and 5 boards in a losing effort.
“(Tonight) was competitive, but there wasn’t that grit,” a frustrated Armstrong said after the game, brushing off talk of his NBA draft prospects. “It was just free flowing and we need to sort something out there. It’s been the story all year … we haven’t found ways to get stops when we need to.”
Taran Armstrong, Taipans guard
Taipans head coach Adam Forde lamented his squad’s inability to compete on the glass, as the Phoenix dominated the rebounding battle 53-35, including 18 offensive boards. Forde admitted his team was “annihilated” on the boards, making it nearly impossible to slow the Phoenix attack.
The Road Ahead
With the crucial victory, the Phoenix live to fight another day in the jam-packed NBL playoff race. But the path ahead won’t be easy, as they must navigate the daunting final weeks of the regular season without the dynamic Walton.
Coach King is preaching resilience and collective effort in the face of adversity. “It’s a tough situation but we have to still play the games and move on and I’m really proud of the guys who stepped up tonight,” King said post-game. “Now we’re being chased; for a long part of the season we’ve been chasing everybody and that’s the new challenge we’re facing.”
The Phoenix will look to rise from the ashes again this weekend as they battle the Adelaide 36ers in another must-win clash. With Hurt leading the charge and role players like Sobey stepping up, the Phoenix are far from extinguished in this captivating NBL campaign.
