-
Mika Vukona rises over Julian Khazzouh - Source: Photosport
A record crowd has helped lift the Breakers to a 93-64 win over the Sydney Kings at Auckland's Vector Arena tonight.
Playing in front of a sold out crowd of 7,979, a New Zealand record for basketball, the defending champions got past some early shooting woes to ensure the fans got their money's worth.
Once again import Gary Wilkinson was a star, leading the Breakers offense with a team-high 18 points, despite struggling from the perimeter with only one from seven shots made from three point range.
He was ably supported by Tom Abercrombie who added 16 points, while import guard Cedric Jackson continued to stuff the stat sheet with 10 points, nine rebounds, five assists and two steals.
Star centre Julian Khazzouh was the standout for the Kings with a game-high 20 points, but foul trouble and a lack of support from his team mates limited his effectiveness.
Sydney had the reputation as the best rebounding team in the league prior to the game, but the Breakers crashed the boards hard to win that contest pulling down 39 rebounds to the Kings' 32.
The Breakers offense was also on song despite some early struggles and they shot an impressive 46% from the field including eight three pointers at 33%.
The win means the Breakers hold top spot on the ANBL ladder on their own, but could again be joined there by the Perth Wildcats if they beat the Townsville Crocodiles tomorrow night.
Great start
The Breakers got off to a great start as they raced away to a 9-2 lead. However some woeful shooting allowed the Kings to come back on a 6-0 run to make it a one-point ball game. The home side finished the quarter having shot only 25% from the floor, but still led by 18-14.
Poor shooting continued for the defending champions early in the second quarter as they surrendered the lead to the more efficient Kings. The Breakers managed to turn around the deficit when Wilkinson made two straight buckets, before Dylan Boucher got his name on the scoresheet with four consecutive points to put them back in front.
That run signalled a momentum shift and the Breakers picked up the pace to end the half on an 11-3 run to take a 45-34 lead into the second half.
Wilkinson reacts angrily
Tempers flared early in the third quarter when Wilkinson reacted angrily to a cheapshot from Sydney's Ben Madgen. It worked in the Breakers favour as they continued to stretch their lead.
Jackson ended the quarter with a flourish as he went hard at the basket before offloading to Vukona who laid it in for the buzzer beater to take a 65-52 lead heading into the final stanza.
From there it turned into an exhibition for the packed arena and saw the Breakers bench get some extended minutes with Leon Henry impressing with a three-pointer on his first touch of the ball, before ending the game by throwing down a putback on the buzzer.
The Breakers return to the North Shore Events Centre in six days' time for a pivotal clash against rivals Perth which could decide who finishes the regular season in top spot and guarantees the crucial home advantage in the playoffs.
