Breakers beaten by Brisbane and Velicka magic
Lithuanian point guard Arnas Velicka has inspired Brisbane Bullets to a come-from-behind 88-85 win over NZ Breakers to open their Australian NBL campaign in style.
The Breakers seemed to control most of the contest, twice building 11-point leads in the second and third quarters, but also lost their way at times, allowing their opponents to stay in contention.
The decisive swing in momentum came midway through a third quarter won 28-19 by Brisbane, as Velicka fuelled a 14-3 run.
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He finished with a team-high 23 points, despite 4/10 from the free-throw line, and delivered 14 assists, as he helped Tall Blacks centre Tyrell Harrison flourish from close range.
Contested in an open-air stadium at the Pat Rafter Arena, Brisbane began the game with the opening two baskets, including a three-pointer from rookie Max Mackinnon – son of Aussie basketball legend Sam Mackinnon.
Harrison was also prominent from the outset, but Breakers point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright connected from the arc to give his team their first lead at 14-13.
As both coaches turned to their benches, back-to-back threes from Jackson-Cartwright and Mojave King fuelled an 11-2 run that propelled the visitors to a 26-19 advantage at the quarter break.
Centre Anzac Rissetto and Jackson-Cartwright took the margin into double figures, but they went more than six minutes without a field goal, as the Bullets clawed their way back within two points as the quarter progressed.
Back-to-back threes from Jackson-Cartwright and guard DJ Vasiljevic put the Breakers into halftime 44-37 up. The sharpshooters led all scoters with 13 and 12 points respectively, and their long-range accuracy (7/15 3pt) and ball control (four turnovers) trumped Brisbane’s efficiency around the basket (61%).
Fouls became something of an issue for Brisbane, when American Nate Hinton picked up his fourth foul early in the third period. Vasiljevic dropped his fourth three-pointer to boost the margin and Jackson-Cartwright had it back into double figures with another of his own.
Velicka triggered a 10-point burst that kept them close, as the Breakers again went cold. He hit a three and then slotted a free-throw to draw level, but forwards Carlin Davidson and Sam Mennenga found their way to the hoop for dunks to restore the Breakers’ edge.
Veteran guard Mitch Norton connected from the corner to put the Bullets ahead 65-63 with a quarter remaining and the Breakers needed a late comeback, despite leading most of the journey.
Mennenga struggled throughout the game (4/13 FG), but NZ teammate Harrison enjoyed his combination with Valicka, taking full toll of his dominance around the ring for three consecutive baskets.
When Velicka hit from deep, the lead was eight. Harrison blocked Jackson-Cartwright against the backboard and then converted down the other end, but Jackson Cartwright hit consecutive threes and King brought them back to within two.
Jackson-Cartwright drew a shooting foul in transition and levelled the score from the free-throw line. Hinton grabbed the lead with a three, PJC found Mennenga cutting to the basket for the dunk, but Hinton fuelled a Harrison dunk at the other end.
Menninga hit two freebies to bring the Breakers within a point with 27 seconds left, but they had to foul to regain possession. Mackinnon cooly slotted a pair from the line and the Breakers needed another three to level.
Jackson-Cartwright had his long-range attempt blocked, Valicka missed two freebies, but Jackson-Cartwright could not hit a despairing heave at the end, as the Bullets held on for victory.
Jackson-Cartwright led all scorers with 26 points, including six three-pointers, while Vasiljevic had 17 points, but the Breakers shot just 42% from the field and also cooled from the arc, converting 7/22 in the second half.
Harrison finished with 22 points, most of them from dunks, while blocking four shots at the defensive end.
The Breakers are now 1-1, after beating Illawarra Hawks in their season-opener, but now face a long road trip to visit Perth Wildcats on Saturday, their third game within six days.
Brisbane Bullets 88 (Velicka 23, Harrison 22, Hinton 14) NZ Breakers 85 (Jackson-Cartwright 26, Vasiljevic 17, Mennenga 12, King 11)
