A career-best performance from Mitch Creek ensured South East Melbourne Phoenix outlasted the NBL ladder-leading Sydney Kings in an epic 113-112 double-overtime victory in Traralgon.
In one of the most entertaining games of the season, Creek scored 46 points and pulled down 10 rebounds in almost 48 minutes of court time as Sunday's match-up at Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium turned into a battle of attrition.
Derrick Walton Jr tried valiantly to drag the Kings over the line, making a series of important buckets in his 45-point haul, but he was unable to land the killer blow when his last-gasp three-pointer at the end of double overtime missed the mark.
The Phoenix held a 113-110 lead before a Walton Jr jump shot made it a one-point game with one minute to play but neither team could find the basket for the remainder of the period, the Phoenix holding on for their 11th win of the season.
Creek was full of praise for both teams after helping drag the Phoenix over the finish line in a classic contest.
"It was the craziest game I've ever been a part of, but at the same time, it never felt like either team was so far out of it or so far, not in control of each other's games," Creek said.
Creek also took time to single out Walton Jr after the pair engaged in one of the most enthralling one-on-one duels in recent memory.
"Just a huge shout out to Derrick - I said to him after the game that was an incredible battle and I was so proud to be a part of it," Creek said.
"You don't get many moments like this in sport. I've played 12 seasons, 13 seasons, and that's my first one that's been like that - head-to-head with somebody for all 47-and-a-half minutes I played. Just an incredible experience to be a part of."
The match-up between the teams ranked first and fourth on the ladder lived up to expectations as the crowd in regional Victoria witnessed a thrilling contest played at a playoff-level intensity.
Both teams suffered injury blows during the match with Sydney's Xavier Cooks playing eight minutes before exiting with ankle soreness while the Phoenix lost starters Gary Browne, Ryan Broekhoff and Trey Kell III.
Sydney piled on 35 points in the second quarter to turn a seven-point deficit into a sizeable 53-45 halftime lead, Walton Jr fuelling the offence with 21 points on 7-of-9 shooting.
But Creek's force of will and a series of impressive defensive plays from reserve guard Owen Foxwell saw the Phoenix come roaring back, the match going into overtime after Walton Jr could not connect on a game-winning drive in the final moments of regulation.
