How to watch & talking points: SE Melbourne v Brisbane

20 Dec 2025

south east melbourne phoenix

brisbane bullets

South East Melbourne will host Brisbane in the club's annual Christmas Spectacular at John Cain Arena.

South East Melbourne Phoenix v Brisbane Bullets
Saturday, December 20, 8pm AEDT
John Cain Arena

How to watch‍

‍Watch every game live on ESPN.

>> How to watch ESPN

Tickets

>> Ticketing information

How to follow & live scores

‍Live scores, stats, breaking news and game highlights are available via the new and improved NBL App.

>> Visit Game Centre | Download the free NBL App now

Talking points

A new voice
The Brisbane Bullets announced that Stu Lash is stepping down from the head coaching role, effective immediately, and that NBL legend Darryl McDonald will serve as the interim coach.

The Bullets sit ninth in the standings, and their recent performances haven’t been pretty, albeit with a hefty injury list.

Perhaps this team will stand up behind their new leading voice and McDonald will produce some of his old NBL magic and get a much-needed win.

The real deal
The South East Melbourne Phoenix are officially the real deal, having gone over to Perth and clawed their way back to an impressive away win over the Wildcats.

While it was Jordan Hunter who was the hero in the third quarter with some impressive shot-making, it was Nathan Sobey once again who came up big in the clutch to secure the win.

The previous two games between these two teams have been big wins for the Phoenix, do they have a third in them?

What they're saying

Phoenix import John Brown III on the importance of grinding out close wins like Thursday night over Perth:
“It [those types of close wins] can help us down in the long run because when we get down in the dumps of February/March, it's going to get tougher and our bodies might break down.

“So we just gotta do the right things, keep relying on each other and just keep pushing every day.”

Bullets guard Mitch Norton on his side turning their season around:
"The good thing for me is that we've got really great guys in that locker room and not one person is blaming anyone.

"We're coming together collectively and we're working extremely hard when it comes down to our day in and day out approach in the gym, on the practice floor and that's where the frustration is coming from.

"We know we're working really hard at all the right things but we're not making shots, we're not executing when we know we can and have the ability to.

"That's what is costing us games so that's where the frustration comes from and no one is blaming anyone, we've got each other's backs and that's what I love about that locker room."