Nathan Sobey top-scored against his former team as ruthless South East Melbourne poured more heat on crisis-ridden Brisbane in a crushing 107-78 NBL win.
Sobey had 20 points and eight assists in a starring role under clear skies at John Cain Arena on Saturday night in the Phoenix's annual open-air game.
Hunter Maldonado (18 points) and Wes Iwundu (13) also shone in a dominant team display, while third-placed SEM advanced to 13-6 with their seventh win by a margin of 20-plus points this season.
It was a third-straight thrashing of Brisbane by Josh King's title-hunting outfit, after road wins by 23 and 27 points earlier in the campaign.
The Bullets, who parted ways with head coach Stu Lash two days earlier, unravelled as they coughed up 28 turnovers in league legend Darryl McDonald's first game as interim coach.
Mitch Norton (five), Javon Freeman-Liberty (five) and Terry Taylor (four) were the worst offenders.
Freeman-Liberty top-scored for Brisbane but was 5-of-18 from the field for his 17 points, with Jacob Holt (10 points) his only teammate in double figures.
Making matters worse for the Bullets, injury-riddled forward Sam McDaniel managed just seven points in less than 14 minutes before succumbing to a leg issue.
The result left Brisbane nursing a 5-14 record, all but certain to miss the post-season for a seventh consecutive year.
SEM led 22-17 at quarter-time despite giving up eight turnovers of their own in a scrappy opening period, and tightened the screws during the second term.
They took a stranglehold on the contest with relentless defence and efficient shooting, surging to a 55-38 advantage at the main break.
Taylor copped a technical foul as the Bullets fell apart, conceding 15 turnovers in the first half and losing McDaniel to his latest setback.
SEM maintained the rage throughout the second half and were never challenged.
Phoenix development player Austin Foxwell brought home fans to their feet with his first NBL points on debut in the final minute of the game.