With Nathan Sobey missing, the question going into Sunday’s top-of-the-table NBL clash at Hoopsfest in Perth was who would score enough points for South East Melbourne Phoenix if they were going to beat the Adelaide 36ers.
The answer was Ian Clark, who stepped up to lead his new side in a dominant 19-point win.
Sobey missed the clash due to illness, robbing the Phoenix of the 22.8 points over the season and 29 points and 6.4 assists over the past five games.
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But coach Josh King had a handy replacement ready to go in Clark, who scored 27 points in the 108-89 victory.
It was an important result for the Phoenix, who would have lost second spot to the Sydney Kings if they’d lost.
The depth of the Phoenix was on show on Sunday, with Clark waiting to step in.
He’s not new to success, having won an NBA championship with the Golden State Warriors and an NBL title with the Sydney Kings.
This was just Clark’s sixth appearance since rejoining the league and the first time called on by Josh King to start the game.
He had seven points in the first quarter as the Phoenix took control of the game.
Clark scored 20 points after half-time, making five of his nine attempts from beyond the three-point line.
Four of his teammates also reached double figures, with Owen Foxwell adding 12 assists to 15 points.
The Phoenix looked like getting in their own way of winning this one.
The game oozed of the round 10 clash when they led Adelaide by 11 points in the first half, only to lose by 13.
This time, the Phoenix not only held on, they ran away to their second biggest win of their season.
They got themselves in some foul trouble in the second quarter though, committing eight personal fouls.
That allowed Bryce Cotton to get himself going, in the Perth venue that he has starred in so many times.
Cotton had ‘only’ eight points midway through the second term, but finished it with 16 points at half-time, including six from six attempts from the free-throw line.
The champ still dropped 30 points, but only two of his teammates could go with him on offence.
Zylan Cheatham recorded a double-double of 10 boards and 12 points, while Isaac Humphries scored 13 points.
Adelaide was forced to make some changes as well.
Isaac White returned to the starting line-up, in a spot usually taken by Troy Brown, who returned home to the USA for personal reasons.
The Phoenix may have led 31-23 at quarter-time, but White led all scorers with eight points.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t add to that tally.
Adelaide also introduced new signing Josh Jenkins, who was pick 23 in 2012 NBA Draft, played with the Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns, Washington Wizards and New York Knicks across six years.
Jenkins entered the game late in the first term when the Phoenix were on a 16-0 run.
Known for his shooting ability and dropped a three-pointer to get his new side back on track.
He played almost 14 minutes, scoring eight points. Adelaide fans can expect him to improve on that between now and the finals.
— NCA NewsWire
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