New Zealand Breakers fall to Perth Wildcats as Christian Doolittle dominates final quarter

Parker Jackson-Cartwright of the Breakers drives to the key against Elijah Pepper of the Wildcats. Photo / Getty Images

In a game that had 21 lead changes, a competitive New Zealand Breakers effort came up short as they were beaten 88-75 by the Perth Wildcats at the RAC Arena.

The Wildcats clawed them down as the hosts dominated the closing stages, after the Breakers had got their noses in front early in the fourth quarter.

Looking for a third road win of the campaign, the Breakers trailed 66-60 at three-quarter time before quickly gaining the lead courtesy of Parker Jackson-Cartwright and Izaiah Brockington. A third Jackson-Cartwright triple cancelled out a Wildcats score before Christian Doolittle went back-to-back for the Wildcats.

Kiwi veteran Rob Loe made an immediate impact in his return from a three-game absence, providing a significant boost for the Breakers. The big man’s presence was felt early as he scored to cross the 1000-point threshold for the club, a major career milestone. Loe remained central to the action, later hitting a clutch basket to tie the game at 70-70 with just 5m 42s remaining.

But the Wildcats attacked through a laser-focused Doolittle in particular. The American forward scored 15 points in the final term with total precision for the hosts as they outscored the tiring Breakers 13-5 down the final stretch.

Doolittle finished with a game-high 24 points to accompany his 14 rebounds, Elijah Pepper scored 13 points and David Duke jnr 12 points, delivering the goods for Wildcats fans.

For the Breakers, Jackson-Cartwright put together a typical all-action performance with 22 points, four rebounds, nine assists and three steals. Anthony Baker scored 18 points, Rob Loe 10 points on four-from-five shooting, while fellow Kiwis Reuben Te Rangi and Sam Mennenga chimed in with six points apiece. NBL Next Star Karim López was kept quiet at the offensive end, scoring only four points, but did contribute a season-high 10 rebounds.

Despite Loe’s strong form, it was a poor night on the boards for the Breakers as they were pounded 59-42, with the Wildcats’ 22 offensive rebounds the most they have given up this season.

The Wildcats had got away to a fast start, scoring the first eight points of the game before Baker opened the Breakers’ account. The Breakers trailed 22-14 at quarter-time but were finding the basket and settling into their work.

A Te Rangi triple cut the deficit to five points and when Jackson-Cartwright converted a darting drive, the Breakers had a 28-27 lead midway through the second period.

The Wildcats regained the lead before Jackson-Cartwright, showing his appetite for the contest, landed amongst the corporate boxes following contact at the end of another athletic lay-up. He had nine points and six assists at halftime with the Breakers trailing by just five points (43-38).

A brace of three-pointers from Baker and some guile from Jackson-Cartwright gave the Breakers a 48-47 lead, then an Isaiah Le’afa trey and a Carlin Davison transition basket further helped the visitors’ cause. It was a period that saw five lead changes, with the Wildcats ahead 66-60 with a quarter to play. And then Doolittle began dropping them three by three.

The Breakers will complete their four-game road stretch in North Queensland, where they take on the Cairns Taipans on Saturday November 22.

Following the Fiba international window, with five Breakers on Tall Blacks duty, they will then host the Sydney Kings in Hamilton in a game that doubles as an Ignite Cup fixture. Currently sitting atop the Ignite Cup, they will be hoping to back up last week’s dethroning of the Kings.

Result: Breakers 75 – Jackson-Cartwright 22 points, Baker 18 pts, Loe 10 pts Perth Wildcats 88 – Doolittle 24 pts, Pepper 13 pts, Duke jnr 12 pts