Malique Lewis’ sensational defensive performance on All-NBL Second Team member Montrezl Harrell in the Play-In Game will boost his NBA stocks, according to 1990 NBL MVP Derek Rucker.

NBL Next Star Lewis was moved onto Harrell in the second half, and the star Adelaide 36er had just seven points on 2/6 shooting, and six rebounds, as the Phoenix stormed to victory after falling behind by 21-points.

Chatting on Moments That Mattered, Rucker explained how NBA teams would have been impressed with the defensive attributes Lewis showed on a big Finals stage. 

“That second half and his (Lewis') moments on Montrezl Harrell I believe, in terms of his NBA significance, were more significant than anything he had done through the course of the season,” Rucker said. 

“In a big-time game, he went up against a guy with Montrezl's pedigree and did a very effective job in shutting him down. If I’m an NBA scout, I’m looking at that and being highly impressed. 

“The hunger and the savvy on the defensive end to understand what he needed to do in his one-on-one match-up, and also the significance of it in the moment of a do-or-die game, that is huge for Malique Lewis.”

The Phoenix will face the Illawarra Hawks in the Playoffs, with game one slated for Friday, February 28.