Match wrap: Clark fires Phoenix past 36ers

The South East Melbourne Phoenix made 16-0 and 15-0 runs in the first and fourth quarters at HoopsFest in a 108-89 win over the league-leading Adelaide 36ers, with Ian Clark stepping up in the absence of Nathan Sobey.

It was the battle of the NBL's top two teams in the last game at RAC Arena for HoopsFest and the Phoenix had to overcome the absence of an unwell Sobey.

There is no like-for-like replacement for him, but NBA and NBL champion Clark might be as close as you can get.

He stepped up big time into that Sobey role in his sixth game since joining the Phoenix to deliver 27 points with four rebounds and three assists on 5/9 three-point shooting.

South East Melbourne shook off a slow start to score 16 straight points in the first quarter before putting the win to bed with 15 straight in the fourth.

The 19-point win improves the Phoenix to 17-8 to close the gap on the 36ers who are 19-6 and having lost back-to-back games after going down to Tasmania nine days earlier.

The Phoenix had the game on their terms with 15 offensive rebounds to seven and to end up taking 18 extra shots while forcing the 36ers into 16 turnovers.

On top of what Clark delivered, John Brown III (14 points, six rebounds) and Jordan Hunter (20 points, nine boards) were outstanding inside combining for seven offensive boards.

Owen Foxwell was terrific as point guard with 15 points and 12 assists with Wes Iwundu landing 3/6 from three for 13 points and four assists, and Next Star Malique Lewis seven points, five rebounds and two assists along with a huge block that led to a breakaway dunk.

It was a tough afternoon for Adelaide despite the 30 points and six assists from Bryce Cotton on his old home floor.

Isaac Humphries added 13 points and seven rebounds, and Zylan Cheatham 12 points and 10 rebounds while newly arrived import John Jenkins showed encouraging signs with eight points and landing a couple of three balls.

It was a flying start from the 36ers as they raced out to a 9-2 lead but suddenly the Phoenix took charge and put up the next 16 points in the contest including back-to-back three-pointers from Wes Iwundu.

The work inside of Jordan Hunter and John Brown III was critical too and South East Melbourne went into quarter-time leading 31-23 without a turnover and a combined 14 points from Ian Clark and Hunter.

Bryce Cotton was doing his best to keep Adelaide in the game in the second quarter and on his old home floor he had 16 points to his name but the rest of his team only combined for 27 points on 10/26 shooting.

The Phoenix had the game on their terms to be leading 53-43 at the half even in the absence of Nathan Sobey with Owen Foxwell important with nine points and four assists.

South East Melbourne continued to have the answers throughout the third quarter including drawing a third and fourth foul on Cotton who was facing the prospect of fouling out for the first time ever at RAC Arena.

He still had 23 points to three quarter-time, but the Phoenix were up 81-69 and offensive rebounds were key in the third quarter including just before the buzzer when Brown III pulled one down and scored on the back of it.

Early in the fourth quarter saw South East Melbourne push out to a 16-point lead following an and-one from Malique Lewis and another three ball to Clark who continued to thrive in Sobey's absence.

That turned into a game clinching 15-0 run from the Phoenix before they completed the 19-point victory having outscored the 36ers 106 points to 80 after a slow start.

The Phoenix now have a short turnaround ahead of hosting the New Zealand Breakers on Wednesday night in an Ignite Cup match up while the Sixers head to Auckland to play the New Zealand Breakers on Friday at Spark Arena.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26 – HOOPSFEST

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 108 (Clark 27, Hunter 20, Foxwell 15)

ADELAIDE 36ERS 89 (Cotton 30, Humphries 13, Cheatham 12)

BOX SCORE