KEY POINTS:
The New Zealand Breakers expect the Perth Wildcats to give them a much tougher basketball test tomorrow night than they got from the Sydney Spirit last night.
The Breakers flew to Perth today bouyed by their crushing 114-70 win over the financially embattled Sydney Spirit at North Shore Events Centre, the biggest win in the club's history.
Sydney had come to Auckland with four wins in their previous five Australian National Basketball League matches, including victories over title contenders the Melbourne Tigers and South Dragons, but they had little to offer in the second half.
The Wildcats in Perth, however, are a different proposition, especially given what seems to be a hostile relationship between the teams.
Both Breakers-Wildcats matches in Auckland this year were fiery affairs.
The Breakers won both, though they only won in the last minute of their first match after a highly-controversial last-second foul call against the Wildcats when the teams were tied.
Breakers guard Phill Jones was suspended for one match for striking Perth forward Shawn Redhage in that match, and there was some push and shove at halftime in the second match as the teams left for the dressing rooms.
Tomorrow's match will be the first in Perth since the two Auckland clashes and follows a long flight to Perth today
"It's going to be a real cracker," coach Andrej Lemanis said.
"That place is a real cauldron - the crowd sits on top of you and screams abuse. They have a tremendous home record.
"We have been around long enough to know you don't put too much on a single regular season game, but they will be up for us and we are looking forward to it."
The Breakers have yet to win in Perth but they will be aided by the fact they were able to rest most of their big names in the final quarter against the Spirit.
With the game sewn up following a dominant third quarter, Lemanis was able to leave Kirk Penney, Tony Ronaldson and Oscar Forman on the bench, while CJ Bruton did not spend much time on court in the final quarter either.
"It's a tough trip to Perth but our group hasn't made that sort of excuse for any away game this year," Lemanis said.
"But it will be good to be able to keep the guys fresh."
The Breakers looked a little rusty on offence in the first half but their defence on top Spirit scorers Jason Smith and Matthew Knight helped the home team go into the halftime break with a 46-41 lead.
They exploded out of the blocks in the quarter, scoring the first 18 points and eventually taking the third quarter 38-12.
Despite fielding a largely second-string team in the final quarter they still dominated the Spirit 30-17. There were strong performances from youngster Tom Abercrombie and forward Adam Tanner, the latter on the comeback trail following a string of injuries.
"I was pleased there was no let-up in intensity once those guys were on court," Lemanis said.
"The defence remained solid and we kept executing on offence."
A win over the Wildcats would put the Breakers level at the top of the ANBL with the South Dragons as they go into a two-week Christmas break.
- NZPA
