The New Zealand Breakers delivered their best performance of the season on the very night they retired the jersey of the legendary Tom Abercrombie.
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The New Zealand Breakers delivered their best performance of the season on the very night they retired the jersey of the legendary Tom Abercrombie.
The team defeated Melbourne United 97-95 to keep their playoff hopes alive, fuelled by a heroic fourth-quarter performance from NBL Next Star, 18-year-old Karim Lopez.
Tipped to be drafted to the NBA, Lopez scored 19 of his career-high 32 points in the final period, with the NBA scouts watching on.
Despite a mounting injury toll for the Breakers that has threatened their finals qualification prospects, the team showed a disciplined focus.
Post-game, a ceremony honoured Abercrombie’s 16-season career, celebrating a New Zealand basketball icon whose influence extends well beyond the sport.
The shirt is unveiled for former New Zealand Breakers player Tom Abercrombie during the retirement ceremony of his No 10 shirt after the win over Melbourne United. Photo / Photosport
The Breakers overcame an eight-point deficit with less than five minutes remaining, showing a grit that had often eluded them in previous fourth quarters. Lopez scored 14 consecutive points to help the hosts establish a 96-92 lead with 55 seconds to play. While a three-pointer from expat Kiwi Finn Delany threatened to derail the comeback, Breakers import Izaiah Brockington sealed the win from the free throw line.
The victory improves the Breakers to an 11-18 record, leaving them just one game behind the sixth-placed Tasmania JackJumpers.
Lopez’s record points haul was built on an impressive 11-for-13 shooting performance, while he also tallied eight rebounds and two blocks. The ever-professional Parker Jackson-Cartwright delivered 23 points for the hosts, while Brockington posted 16 and Rob Loe added a crucial 10 points.
With the Breakers frontcourt stocks decimated due to season-ending injuries to Sam Mennenga and Rob Baker II, it was left to veterans Loe, Reuben Te Rangi and Max Darling to manage the interior. The trio ensured Melbourne only narrowly won the rebounding count 36-32.
The Breakers made a promising start to lead 28-21 at the first break. Jackson-Cartwright scored the final seven points of the first half to give the hosts a 49-48 lead at halftime. The point guard led all scorers at the interval with 17 points, shooting a perfect six-for-six from the field.
The contest remained close throughout the third period, with Melbourne holding a 73-71 advantage entering the final 10 minutes. United appeared set to spoil the occasion before the late surge led by Lopez. Following the game, tributes flowed for Abercrombie as his retired No 10 jersey was raised to the Spark Arena rafters.
The team now travels to Tasmania for a vital clash with the JackJumpers on Sunday. This precedes a meeting with South East Melbourne Phoenix on Thursday, February 5, at Eventfinda Stadium on the North Shore – a venue where Abercrombie delivered many golden moments in New Zealand basketball.
With the team hitting late-season form, playoff qualification seems within their grasp.
