Nathan Sobey has sliced through South East Melbourne to snap Brisbane's four-game NBL losing streak after a "bonehead play" had Phoenix guard Gary Browne ejected.
The Bullets prevailed 95-83 at home on Saturday night, the Phoenix cutting a 15-point lead to just one in the third term before Browne was marched for punching centre Aron Baynes' stomach in frustration.
The hosts steadied to push the lead back to 15 in a confidence-building final term, improving them to 9-10 and arresting a slide that had threatened to kill their season.
Phoenix coach Mike Kelly described it as an uncharacteristically selfish play from Browne (13 points, four assists), despite the fact he has already been fined for striking earlier this season and now faces the prospect of suspension.
"He had been instrumental at both ends and then made a bonehead play," Kelly said.
"There was plenty we could have done better, including handling the atmosphere and physicality, and just handling everything a little bit better."
Sobey dunked his first points just three seconds into the contest and finished with 35, attacking the rim and also settling for mid-range jump shots to mess with the Phoenix zone defence.
His intent saw the Bullets' offence flow, with Sam McDaniel (14 points) and Josh Bannan (17 points, six rebounds) both finding easy points, and Baynes slowing the progress of Phoenix big Alan Williams (13 points, 11 rebounds).
"It's been frustrating ... we've been putting in the work and it hasn't been paying off," Sobey said.
"Tonight we got after it and executed when we needed to."
The Bullets' win saw them clinch the series against the Phoenix, push them just two wins behind third place and come with new addition Casey Prather - an import replacement for the injured DJ Mitchell - unused on the bench.
Coach Justin Schueller admitted he was close to injecting Prather in the third quarter but was happy to keep the three-time NBL champion on ice, given injuries have kept him off the court for almost two years.
Instead, he'll likely suit up in their next game against Sydney, which isn't until January 7.
It was a thud back to earth for the Phoenix, who had risen for an emotional upset of the Tasmania JackJumpers on Christmas Day but are now 9-10 and clinging to fifth on a crowded ladder.
Mitch Creek (11 points, 11 rebounds, four assists) was unable to impose in his return from a three-game absence.
"It's a bit of a double win; they're (Phoenix) in the same quagmire that we are," Schueller said.
"Sobes led that from start to end ... it's easy to follow and I loved our defensive effort.
"But we can't get too high, need to turn that into another one."
