NBL: New Zealand Breakers defeat Cairns Taipans in Far North Queensland

Anthony Lamb of the Breakers. Photo / Photosport

The rollercoaster NBL season of the New Zealand Breakers has continued after they got back on the upward slope with a dominant 111-82 thumping of the Cairns Taipans in Far North Queensland.

The game was able to proceed at Cairns Convention Centre on Friday night despite Tropical Cyclone Jasper’s appearance mid-week, and it was the Breakers who delivered a savage bounce-back performance.

New Zealand have been the great enigma of the competition this season on the back of a grand final appearance, and they hit back from disappointing losses to South East Melbourne and Tasmania.

Former NBA forward Anthony Lamb guaranteed the Breakers would rebound following Saturday’s home loss to Tasmania.

He led the charge, with nothing summing up their improvement more than when he scored a put-back basket on a missed free-throw in the second quarter.

It was a stunning offensive outburst from the Breakers as they raced to an 11-3 lead and never looked back.

They would go on a 15-0 run during the opening period before finishing up with a season-best 36 points to lead by 18, already on 76 per cent shooting.

That continued in the second quarter with another 26 points, with the Breakers leading 62-36 at the half.

The team was shooting at 67 per cent, with Lamb combining with Parker Jackson-Cartwright for 33 of those on a combined 11-of-15 shooting.

New Zealand completed the job to win by 29 points to improve to 5-9 on the season. They shot 58 per cent for the game while going 25-of-34 at the foul line.

Lamb delivered 29 points and eight rebounds, Jackson-Cartwright 20 along with eight assists, and Finn Delany 11 points and seven rebounds.

“We were due for a good game,” Breakers coach Mody Maor said.

“We’ve been feeling that we’ve been doing the right work, and good work, for a while now, but it hasn’t shown in the win column.

“I’m happy the boys got a chance to experience this, they deserved it big time.”

It was a rough night for Cairns, who slip to 6-9 before Sunday’s trip to Brisbane.

Taran Armstrong top-scored for the home side with 15 points, while Patrick Miller and Sam Mennenga added 13 apiece.

However, 15 fewer free-throw attempts, being out-rebounded by eight and conceding 17 points from their 13 turnovers spelled the demise of the Snakes.

Taipans coach Adam Forde quickly turned his focus to Sunday.

“I found myself searching pretty early on with two early timeouts in the first quarter, and going deep into the rotation just trying to find someone to not play panicked,” Forde said.

“We probably put the cue in the rack pretty early on knowing we have to back it up in two days against Brisbane.”