Creek hurt as Taipans beat Phoenix

Steve Barrett | January 9, 2023

A second-quarter onslaught has launched the Cairns Taipans from early trouble to a 94-85 NBL victory over South East Melbourne Phoenix, whose disappointment was compounded with superstar Mitch Creek sent to hospital with an eye injury.

MVP candidate Creek had a game-high 25 points but didn’t complete the match after sustaining an eye poke from DJ Hogg midway through the fourth quarter.

Chasing a fourth straight win without star forward Keanu Pinder (ankle injury), the Taipans fell in a huge hole on Sunday afternoon at the Cairns Convention Centre, trailing 35-24 at quarter-time and by 13 points early in the second term.

But they responded with a sizzling 33-14 second-quarter onslaught and backed it up with a 19-13 third term to drive home their advantage.

“That’s four games (for four wins) in eight days,” Taipans coach Adam Forde said.

“Having guys step up on different occasions, at different moments during this whole stretch was really important.

“It was great to see the guys get the result they deserved.”

The Phoenix’s fourth straight defeat dropped them to sixth on the ladder, putting their finals hopes in jeopardy.

Captain Tahjere McCall (24 points) top-scored for the Snakes, who were under the pump early.

They were beaten on rebounds 12-3 in the opening quarter, during which the Phoenix shot a sizzling 68 per cent.

Spectacularly, the Taipans turned it around in a high-voltage second term.

They pinched the lead on a 14-0 run and extended their advantage to 57-49 when McCall drained a three-pointer on the halftime buzzer.

DJ Hogg had connected on four-of-five triples at the long break before fellow import Shannon Scott hurt Phoenix at both ends.

The margin swelled to 17 points when Majok Deng stripped Creek and finished with a lay-up.

Ryan Broekhoff and Ryan Foxwell got going in the fourth and the Phoenix never waved the white flag, but their task was a forlorn one while Creek was out of action.

“Defensively, we were too error-ridden in that second quarter,” Phoenix coach Simon Mitchell said.

“Our offence suffered because of the defence and our defence suffered from the offence.

“It was a little vicious circle we got ourselves in.”