Basketball: Breakers lose their first game

The Breakers ended their winning streak last night, losing to the Melbourne Tigers 76-64. Photo / Getty Images

The Melbourne Tigers showed their teeth and championship potential with a thrilling win over the previously unbeaten Breakers in Melbourne on Saturday night, prevailing 67-64 in a game high on defence and intensity.

Breakers head Coach Andrej Lemanis was philosophical at the end of the game.

"It was just one of those nights, we couldn't find anything to go right for us. We make play defensively and throw play back to them, we give up offensive rebounds off a foul shot, 21 turnovers, given all that it was amazing we were in the game and had a chance. I didn't think we played well, for whatever reason we couldn't get things to go our way. To still have a chance in the ball game was actually a good sign as far as our fortitude goes. We kept sticking at it, kept sticking at it, we didn't quit at any stage."

The Breakers struggled however to find any rhythm on offence in a scrappy first half, shooting poorly from the floor generally and making just two of six from the three-point line.

Best in scoring through the opening 20 minutes for the Breakers was CJ Bruton (seven) with the big men not making an impact in the paint, Gary Wilkinson, Alex Pledger and Tom Abercrombie combining for just 10 points.

The issue was stopping Tigers big Cameron Tragardh, the centre had 15 points to lead all scorers.

The third quarter was an even affair though with the Breakers a chance to take the lead with 18 seconds on the clock, but Pledger couldn't convert from the free throw line and from the final possession before the third quarter break Liam Rush converted from the corner for a momentum changing three and a four point lead at 53-49.

The low scoring continued in the final quarter with the home side at one point out to a nine-point lead before the Breakers went on an eight-point run of their own to leave the game in the balance.

Sadly though, with just one point between the teams, it was the referees who had the biggest say down the stretch. A number of soft calls and ultimately a controversial technical foul on Cedric Jackson gave Patty Mills four foul shots with 13 seconds on the clock.

Mills made two of four to extend the lead to three and with possession from the side the game was going the way of the home side.

A turnover however from the inbound pass and a Wilkinson lay-up silenced the home crowd momentarily and shut the music down as the lead was down to one.

The offence worked space brilliantly for Bruton but his three from the corner with the final shot rimmed out and the Tigers breathed a sigh of relief.

Best for the Breakers was Wilkinson with 19 points and 13 rebounds, with 15 points in the second half, while Bruton was the only other Breaker in double figures with 11.

Vukona was huge defensively with ten boards in another good all round team effort, keeping the home side to just 67 points in their own gym.

The Breakers return home today (sun) to prepare for a long-awaited first home game this season with the club hosting the Sydney Kings at the Vector Arena on Friday night.

-APNZ