Adelaide thrashed by record Breakers 

The Breakers are a perfect 3-0 after recording the biggest win in franchise history, 118-79 over the Adelaide 36ers on Thursday night.

The 38 point thrashing bettered the Breakers' previous best winning margin of 33.

New Zealand was never behind on the scoreboard, completely dominating the 36ers in all areas of the game in front of a huge home crowd.

Kirk Penney topped the score sheet for the ANBL's only remaining undefeated team with 34 points and six steals while Phill Jones hit five three-pointers in his tally of 18.

Rick Rickert worked tirelessly to notch his seventh double-double in 14 appearances for the Breakers, ending with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Up by 21 points at halftime, it was the perfect chance for Lemanis to dip into his bench.

Tim Behrendorff was particularly impressive with a career-best 12 points.

Thomas Abercrombie and Corey Webster also played out the final minutes for the Breakers.

Adelaide's field goal percentage on the night was an awful 35% - in stark contrast to New Zealand's 52%.

The loss sends the 36ers (2-2) spiraling down the competition ladder. Adelaide had been in second spot coming into Thursday night's game.

The Breakers came out in ominous fashion, scoring 11 points before Adelaide even found the basket.

Points looked like they were going to be hard to come by for the 36ers, hampered with the pre-game losses of Adam Ballinger and Paora Winitana through injury.

Still firmly ahead on the scoreboard, the Breakers' offence slowed as the first quarter wore on, but the defence was getting it done at the other end.

Dillon Boucher picked at the scraps with early steals and rebounds, leading the Breakers to a 23-14 advantage at quarter time.

Throughout the second period it was still the Breakers in charge out on the floor.

Rickert wasn't lighting up the scoring but was playing a vital role on the boards, Adelaide with very few second chance opportunities from missed shots.

CJ Bruton (1) and Oscar Forman (2) pushed New Zealand in front by 19 points with back-to-back-to-back three pointers midway through the quarter.

That lit the spark as the good times rolled on for the Breakers, up by a massive 21 points at halftime (55-34).

Penney had a game-high 16 points at the split, while Rickert ruled the rim with eight rebounds.

It only got sweeter for New Zealand in the second half, not showing any complacency despite the one-sided score.

The 36ers finally got some shots tumbling throughout the third quarter, Brad Davidson eating away at the deficit with some massive three point shots.

But just like that the chance slipped away for Adelaide as New Zealand went on a 15-0 run, the score 88-59 heading into the final term.

With the result already decided the Breakers merely rubbed salt into the wounds as time ticked away.

While the hapless 36ers will head back to Adelaide for some serious soul-searching, New Zealand have signaled their right to be known as early championship favourites.

The Breakers (3-0) play the Cairns Taipans at the North Shore Events Centre next Thursday night.

Breakers 118: (Penney 34, Jones 14, Bruton 16)

36ers 80: (Holmes 19, Schenscher 15, Maher 14)

Halftime: Breakers 55-34