18
Jan
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Clark praises teammates for upset win over 36ers
Ian Clark of the Phoenix celebrates with his team mates as he gets interviewed during the round 17 NBL match between Adelaide 36ers and South East Melbourne Phoenix at RAC Arena, on January 18, 2026, in Perth, Australia. Photo: James Worsfold/Getty Images
Highlights
The NBA and NBL champion finally found his form with his new team in their best win of NBL26
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New uniform but same old Ian Clark as the NBA champion finally found his form with the South East Melbourne Phoenix to lead them to an upset win over the ladder-leading Adelaide 36ers in the final NBL game at HoopsFest at RAC Arena despite being without MVP candidate Nathan Sobey.
The former Golden State Warriors guard, who has also won an NBA title with the Sydney Kings, had 27 points, including five triples as the second-placed Phoenix dominated the 36ers.
Clark praised the encouragement from his teammates for the performance.
"(Ever) since I've been here, coaches, teammates they've been giving me confidence, telling me to be myself, keep shooting the ball, obviously knowing I'm coming in mid-season and I'm trying to get my legs under me, trying to understand what we do," he said in the post-game press conference.
"It's been a process but it's about falling in love with that (process), I've been getting the work in every day but the biggest thing is these guys in the locker room, we pull for each other, nobody cares who gets the credit but it's a collective unit."
Phoenix coach Josh King said it wasn't just up to Clark to step up in the absence of Sobey.
"The obvious answer is IC and Glover but we needed everybody to step up," hesaid.
"Wes (Iwundu) did a great job but it was great to see IC get going today but having Sobey out we needed several guys to step up and if you look at the (box score) several guys did. It was good to see people step up in his absence... I think it was our best overall collective defensive performance."
King also said the performance gave his team added confidence.
"I don't know about statement (win) because they're all important if you look at the ladder... we wanted to win this one because it's the next one and it feels good to prove to ourselves that we can hang with a team like Adelaide but again, every game is important," he said.
Match Recap
South East Melbourne Phoenix (Record) defeated Adelaide 36ers (Record) 108-89 at RAC Arena in front of 6,953 fans, with Ian Clark's explosive 27-point performance leading the charge.
Key Details
- Result: South East Melbourne Phoenix 108 def. Adelaide 36ers 89
- When: Saturday, 18th January 2026
- Where: RAC Arena, Perth
- Standings
By the Numbers
- Ian Clark (Phoenix) starred with 27 points, four rebounds, three assists and one steal in 26 minutes.
- Bryce Cotton (36ers) scored 30 points, and had two rebounds, six assists and one steal in 36 minutes.
What Happened
The Phoenix established early control and never relinquished their advantage, building a commanding lead that stretched to 25 points at its peak.
Clark's outstanding shooting display from downtown proved pivotal, as he connected on five-of-nine three-pointers while shooting an efficient 61% from the field. His ability to score from all areas of the court kept the 36ers' defence constantly stretched and unable to mount any sustained comeback.
Jordan Hunter provided exceptional interior presence for the Phoenix, dominating in the paint with 20 points on an outstanding 77% shooting from the field. The big man's seven-of-nine field goal performance, combined with his perfect six-of-seven showing from the charity stripe, showcased his efficiency in the key. Hunter also cleaned the glass effectively with nine boards, including four offensive rebounds that provided crucial second-chance opportunities for his team.
Despite Cotton's valiant 30-point effort for Adelaide, shooting 50% from the field, the 36ers struggled to find consistent offensive rhythm as a team.
The veteran guard's nine-of-ten performance from the foul line demonstrated his reliability under pressure, but he received insufficient support from his teammates. Flynn Cameron endured a disappointing night, managing just five points on poor 18% shooting from the field, including a lacklustre one-of-six display from beyond the arc.
The Phoenix's superior three-point shooting proved decisive in securing the 19-point victory. Phoenix connected on 11 triples at a solid 38% clip, while the 36ers managed just six-of-23 from downtown for a poor 26% conversion rate.
Owen Foxwell orchestrated the Phoenix offence masterfully, dishing out 12 assists while contributing 15 points of his own. His court vision and decision-making were instrumental in creating scoring opportunities for his teammates throughout the contest.
The rebounding battle heavily favoured the home team, with Phoenix collecting 42 boards compared to Adelaide's 34, providing them with additional possessions and limiting the visitors' second-chance opportunities.
Phoenix also demonstrated better ball control, committing just 13 turnovers compared to Adelaide's 16, allowing them to maintain offensive momentum throughout the match. The victory strengthens Phoenix's position in the standings while leaving the 36ers needing to regroup quickly.
