Kevin Braswell scored 14 points. Photo / Getty Images
Kirk Penney made a solid return to the Breakers as they dispatched the Gold Coast Blaze on Saturday night to maintain their unbeaten start to the ANBL season.
Penney marked his return with 13 points, including three of six three-pointers, and five rebounds in 25 minutes of court time.
Coach
Andrej Lemanis described the 2008/09 MVP's return as "seamless".
"The style he plays suits our style of game and obviously he has played with us before so he knows most of the guys," Lemanis said. "It was fine."
Australian bookmaker Centrebet now lists the 4-0 Breakers at $3.50 to take the title - equal favourites with defending champions Perth Wildcats.
A 32-15 second quarter paved the way for Saturday's 96-81 victory.
The Breakers led by eight at half-time and withstood a final quarter comeback tin which the Blaze pulled to within three with eight minutes remaining.
Paul Henare then drew a foul as he was scoring and converted the three-point play to kickstart a 13-4 run that took the Breakers to a match-winning lead.
Import forward Gary Wilkinson top-scored with 23 points from 10/14 field goals, including three of four three-pointers.
Wilkinson was top-scorer for the Breakers in all their pre-season matches but struggled to reproduce that form in the opening three matches.
"I think he was a little frustrated with the first couple of games," Lemanis said.
"It hasn't dropped as much as he wanted but we all know he is a great shooter. Like everyone it comes in ebbs and flows."
Thomas Abercrombie contributed 15 points and eight rebounds, while Kevin Braswell had 14 points.
The Blaze entered the match as the league's worst three-pointing shooting team, and they backed that up, connecting with only two of 24 attempts from beyond the arc to slump to their second defeat of the season.
A staunch Breakers defensive effort added to the Blaze's shooting woes.
"We made them take contested shots and tough shots," Lemanis said. "They didn't get too many open ones."
The win took the Breakers' winning run to 10 matches, a streak that extends back to final six games of last season.
They face Adelaide on Friday night before heading to Perth on Sunday for the second match of a double header.
