On April 24, Beijing time, the Australian NBL League regular season finale, southeast Melbourne Phoenix team against Perth Wildcats. The Phoenix team fell behind by a slight gap in the first three quarters, Zhou Qi did not get much playing time, and the Phoenix team once surpassed the score in the last quarter, but was still equalized by the Wildcats, and Zhou Qi did not appear in the last quarter. In overtime, Zhou Qi returned to the court to score consecutive internal points, and finally the Phoenix defeated the Wildcats 102-100 in overtime, ending the season with 15 wins and 13 losses.
Statistics
Phoenix: Zhou Qi 11 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 blocks, Mumford 24 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists, Alpha 10 points, Crick 15 points, Ashley 17 points, Ednham 14 points.
Wildcats: Norton 11 points, Cotton 28 points and 9 assists, Blanchefield 10 points, Hodgson 12 points, Fraser 22 points.
Focus players
Zhou Qi only played less than 5 minutes in the first half, with 4 points, 1 rebound and 2 fouls on 1-of-1, and did not have many performance opportunities on the court. Zhou Qi played another 9 minutes in the third quarter, once completing a violent dunk on the inside line, but in the last quarter Zhou Qi was once again hidden by the snow. Fortunately, zhou qi re-entered the game in overtime, he scored consecutive kills on the inside line, helping the Phoenix team to beat the Wildcats in overtime, and Zhou Qi contributed 11 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 2 blocks to become one of the winning heroes.
Zhou Qi signed a 1+1 two-year contract with the Phoenix, of which the second year has a player option, Zhou Qi is certainly the main center of the Phoenix team this season, but he has not obtained absolute offensive authority, especially in the key moments are repeatedly hidden, so whether he will execute the remaining year player options is doubtful, and the future is to continue to stay in the NBL, or return to the CBA, and impact the NBA is unknown.
Highlight lenses
Zhou Qi broke through 2+1 to hit his first goal.
Game review
The Phoenix team has missed the playoffs this season ahead of schedule, and this game is the last game of the Phoenix regular season and the final battle of Zhou Qi's season. Clarke threw a three-point lead with Alpha at the start of the first quarter to take a 5-0 lead, the Wildcats chased the points with a wave of 6-2 attacks, and Zhou Qi was replaced for a foul. Ashley hit two free throws, the Wildcats went on an 8-2 offensive run to overtake the score, Mumford hit a shot to chase the score, the Wildcats extended their eight-point advantage with a wave of 7-0, and the Phoenix chased five points in a row. Fraser hit a three-pointer, Ashley threw a shot, Norton hit two free throws, Pinault hit a layup, and the Phoenix trailed the Wildcats 22-25 in the first quarter.
The Phoenix opened the second quarter with four straight points to overtake the score, and Cotton dunked and scored five consecutive points with three points to lead the Wildcats with a 9-2 offensive wave to extend a six-point lead. Mumford scored three points, the Wildcats scored four more, Crick hit a three-pointer, and Zhou Qi was replaced. The Wildcats scored five more points to take advantage of nine points, Mumford hit a three-pointer, Norton broke through, and Zhou Qi broke through 2+1 and Ranch's inside hit to chase the difference of 3 points. The Wildcats scored four consecutive points, Zhou Qi made two free throws and one shot, Fraser and Milner scored a three-pointer, and the Phoenix trailed the Wildcats 46-52 in the first half.
Easy side to fight again, Fraser broke through Zhou Qi's layup hit, the Phoenix chased only 2 points behind a wave of 8-2 attacks, Blanchefield hit a three-pointer, and Mumford scored 3 points to chase only 2 points. Norton hit a layup, Alpha chased a three-point deficit, the Wildcats scored 4 points in a row, and Zhou Qi's inside dunk and penalty missed. Fraser hit a three-pointer, Zhou Qi assisted Ashley's rebound shot, Ashley continued to make up the basket to chase a difference of 2 points, And Ashley fouled Hodgson with two free throws and one shot. At the end of the third quarter, the Phoenix team trailed the Wildcats 66-69, and Zhou Qi shot and free throws in the first three quarters, making 4 of 2 shots, and had 6 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 2 blocks.
The Phoenix opened the fourth quarter with a four-point gap, with the Phoenix back-to-back throws trailing to a 75-75 draw, Ashley hooking up with Edenham for three points, and the Phoenix coming up 80-75. The Phoenix then continued to suppress the Wildcats, extending their 87-81 lead by six points, with Cotton and Norton each scoring a three-pointer to tie 87-87. Crick responded with a three-pointer, Norton hit two free throws and went to a layup with Cotton, and the Wildcats trailed to a 90-90 draw. Mumford missed a key shot and missed the game, Blanchefield grabbed the rebound, and the two sides tied 90-90 in regular time.
Entering overtime, Zhou Qi was sent to the field again, Cotton took the lead in shooting, Zhou Qi hit Hodgson's basket behind his back, Cotton continued to score inside, and Mumford broke through the layup to return. Crick snatched a dragon to hit a layup, Blanchefield threw a hit, Zhou Qi received a long pass and was fouled by two free throws, and Fraser broke through to the basket and hit a layup. Zhou Qi's low-post receiver hooked up by 1 point, and Crick threw a three-point advantage to stop the Wildcats. The Wildcats missed consecutive shots, Mumford was fouled and made two free throws, Cotton went to the basket to chase a difference of 2 points, and finally the Phoenix beat the Wildcats in overtime.
Both sides started
Phoenix: Mumford, Ranch, Alpha, Zhou Qi, Crick
Wildcats: Norton, Cotton, Blanchefield, Hodgson, Fraser
(Text/Drunken Floating Life)