KEY POINTS:
The New Zealand Breakers will face the Taipans in Cairns in the Australian NBL playoffs this Thursday.
The Auckland-based franchise has narrowly missed out on a home playoff after suffering a 98-85 defeat to the Wildcats in Perth.
It leaves the Breakers seventh on the ladder, with Cairns up to sixth courtesy of a 108-88 win over the Townsville Crocodiles.
The Breakers entered last night's match knowing a win would secure a home playoff game. However the defeat, coupled with the Taipans' win over Townsville, skittled any thoughts of home court advantage early in the post season.
In other matches, table-topping Sydney finished the regular season with a scratchy 88-81 win over the bottom of the table Dragons, while the defending champion Brisbane Bullets were too good for the Wollongong Hawks, winning 129-98. The Melbourne Tigers beat the West Sydney Razorbacks 117-97.
One other playoff game has been decided with Townsville to face the Gold Coast on Wednesday.
The winner of that match will face the fourth-placed Wildcats on Friday in Perth, with the winner of the Breakers-Taipans game to meet the Bullets in Brisbane on Saturday.
QUARTERFINAL SCHEDULE
Feb 20: Townsville (5th) v Gold Coast Blaze (8th) at Townsville Entertainment Centre
Feb 21: Cairns Taipans (6th) v New Zealand Breakers (7th) at Cairns Convention Centre
Feb 22: Perth (4th) v winner of 5th v 8th at Challenge Stadium, Perth
Feb 23: Brisbane Bullets (3rd) v winner of 6th v 7th at Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
- NEWSTALK ZB
