Basketball: Breakers put one foot in NBL grand final

Breaker Alex Pledger and Adelaide's Daniel Johnson contest the ball in last night's first NBL playoffs match. Photo / Getty Images

Crushing win over Adelaide in first playoff game the biggest victory of the season.

Game one of the NBL playoffs isn't a bad time for a team to produce their biggest win of the season.

The Breakers made a triumphant return to the post-season at Vector Arena last night, crushing Adelaide in the first game of their semifinal series to put one foot in the grand final.

The manner in which the Kiwi club dispatched the 36ers made a mockery of the respective teams' recent form. While Adelaide appeared a runaway train heading into the playoffs, winning 10 straight games to close the season, the Breakers stumbled across the line by losing three of their last four.

But that runaway train came to a shuddering halt as the Breakers continued an impressive bounceback campaign after a year spent in basketball's abyss.

They could hardly have hoped for a better start to their playoff return. They led from the start, shot 53 per cent from the field and 44 from deep, and received quality contributions from all of their key players.

Adelaide's defence won't be seen in any guidebooks but the Breakers hardly allowed their opponents a sniff, blowing them away from the tip-off and refusing to let up in the 40 minutes that followed.

The tone was set as the Breakers jumped out to a 16-2 advantage and it was no surprise to see their leader play a huge part in establishing early supremacy. Mika Vukona, once again playing at his favourite time of the year, seemed to relish the stakes, equalling a club record with a 19th post-season appearance.

Vukona led by example, displaying a level of intensity rarely seen in the regular season and even antagonising his opponents into several scuffles, with his teammates taking care of the rest. Corey Webster, in particular, seemed to enjoy his first playoff experience as a starter, pouring in a game-high 24 points.

Cedric Jackson recorded 13 points, 10 assists and three steals, every starter finished the game with double figures, while Tai Wesley (10 points, seven rebounds) and Reuben Te Rangi (10 points, three rebounds) chipped in from the bench.

It all added up to a rather comprehensive victory, but the Breakers won't be fooled into thinking the series is theirs ahead of tomorrow night's second game in Adelaide. They are, based on last night's exploits, well aware how quickly circumstances can change.

Their own seismic shift happened almost immediately, beginning the game by making three-quarters of their baskets at one end and forcing Adelaide to take tough shots at the other.

While the 36ers came back into the game as the two teams' shooting numbers normalised, the Breakers kept their composure and withstood a fightback that at one stage brought their opponents to within four.

That was as close as Adelaide got. Vukona was enjoying the opportunity to bang bodies with the 36ers' imposing front line and he led the Breakers with 11 points and seven rebounds at the major break.

Breakers 111 (Webster 24, Jackson 13, Vukona 12)
36ers 82 (Wilson 21, Johnson 14, Creek 12).
HT: 56-41.