Basketball: Breakers fall to Blaze

Gary Wilkinson of the Breakers on defence as Ira Clark of the Blaze lays the ball up during their round 20 ANBL match. Photo / Getty Images

The New Zealand Breakers' unbeaten run in the Australian National Basketball League came to a halt in Auckland tonight after another big fourth quarter just failed to carry them home against the Gold Coast Blaze.

The Blaze won 94-91 against the league leaders, but only after a second nailbiting finish between the sides in the space of four days.

Down by 21 points early in the fourth quarter, the Breakers mounted a big finish, one of their trademarks this season, to tie the scores at 91-91 with 32 seconds to go.

But the Blaze edged back in front from the free throw line and survived the final four seconds to close out the contest.

The defeat was just the Breakers' second at home this season and ended an eight-match winning streak.

However, they retain a comfortable buffer at they top of the table with an 18-4 win-loss record and six matches to play, and with a playoff spot already booked.

For the Blaze, who are battling to keep their own top-four hopes alive, it was a big win and took their record to 11-12.

It lifted them above the Wollongong Hawks to fifth in the standings on percentages and they have five more matches to improved their position.

Victory was also revenge for their 123-115 double-overtime loss to the Breakers in Queensland on Sunday night.

Blaze coach Joey Wright had said he wanted his players to slow down the opposition's transition from defence to attack and they did a good job over the first three quarters.

The visitors took the lead hit the front midway through the first quarter, when a nice move by veteran Ira Clark lead to a three-point play, and they were never headed from then on.

Clark proved a particular handful, the 2.03-metre American showing he still had plenty of athleticism at 35 to rattle up a game-high 23 points and also pull in 11 rebounds.

He got good support from Chris Goulding with 21 points, while James Harvey contributed 17 points.

For the Breakers, star guard Kirk Penney followed up his 35-point haul at the weekend to top score for his side with 21.

Gary Wilkinson and CJ Burton chimed in with 17 points each, while Mika Vukona's ability under the boards was again in evidence as he compiled a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds.

The match was preceded by a minute's silence in response to the devastating earthquake in Christchurch yesterday and the players wore black armbands.

The Breakers' next outing is against the Hawks in Wollongong on Sunday.

Gold Coast Blaze 94 (Ira Clark 23, Chris Goulding 21, James Harvey 17, Adam Gibson 13) New Zealand Breakers 91 (Kirk Penney 21, Gary Wilkinson 17, CJ Bruton 17, Mika Vukona 13, Tom Abercrombie 10).

- NZPA