NZ Breakers 91
Adelaide 36ers 77
The New Zealand Breakers continued to set the pace in the Australian National Basketball League by beating Adelaide 36ers 91-77 in Auckland tonight for their 13th win of the season.
The Breakers got off to a slow start, with their timing for passes a little off and allowed Adelaide get out to a 10-7 lead.
But once Kirk Penney, Thomas Abercrombie and Gary Wilkinson got into their work, the deficit was quickly cut.
Kevin Braswell and CJ Bruton came off the bench and put some rhythm into the Breakers, each sinking three-pointers to spark their side into action.
The Breakers also tightened up their defence and with Bruton and Braswell calling the shots in attack, a nine-point run from 17-18 behind saw Adelaide quickly run out of the game.
The Breakers stamped their domination when Thomas Abercrombie finished off an alley oop move set up by Braswell in the last second of the first quarter for a 28-21 lead.
The game was essentially won when the Breakers went on a 13-point scoring spree from the start of the second quarter while keeping Adelaide scoreless. They outscored their opponents 27-15 to take a 55-36 lead into halftime.
The Breakers opened the second half with Gary Wilkinson sinking two three-pointers and Paul Henare adding another in the space of a couple of minute to break Adelaide's resolve.
The Breakers' fluent attacks punched huge holes in Adelaide's defence and gave the shooters time to line up their shots unchallenged as they won the quarter 21-19.
Wilkinson shot a game high 21 points with Penney adding 19. Braswell made 11.
The Breakers coasted the final quarter to be outscored 15-22 but by then, the game was in the bag.
Daniel Johnson topscored for Adelaide with 18 followed by Adam Ballinger with 16.
New Zealand Breakers 91 (Gary Wilkinson 21, Kirk Penney 19, Kevin Braswell 11) Adelaide 36ers 77 (Daniel Johnson 18, Adam Ballinger 16). Halftime: 55-36.
- NZPA
