Breakers let 36ers slip away for victory
- Dave Worsley
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
The Breakers almost scored a comeback victory against the Adelaide 36ers in Christchurch only to drop the result 83-79 in their latest NBL clash.
The home side took a two-point lead into the fourth quarter on Thursday at Wolfbrook Arena but could manage just two free throws, missing 14 consecutive field-goal attempts in the first eight minutes of play.
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Five-time MVP Bryce Cotton, who started slowly, hit a step-back triple to put the 36ers ahead by nine and seemingly ice the contest.
In a game that had fluctuated all night, the Breakers recovered with five quick points, forcing turnovers with their full-court press to get within two in the final 90 seconds.
Both teams played the foul game and it was Zylan Cheatham's pair of makes that effectively sealed the deal with 14 seconds to play, after Breakers guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright had missed his second effort from the stripe.
Despite shooting 7/18 for the game, Cotton still hit four triples and finished with 23 points and six assists for Adelaide with Cheatham again influential with 13 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals.
He also spent plenty of time guarding Sam Mennenga and had a big say in holding the Breakers big man to just seven points on 2/12 shooting.
Izaiah Brockington did his best guarding Cotton and up the other end had 25 points with 9/15 shooting from the field and 3/6 from downtown for New Zealand.
Jackson-Cartwright still finished with 21 points and 10 assists with Next Star Karim Lopez adding 11 points and six rebounds.
The hosts were outrebounded 17-7 in the first quarter and hit just 2/10 from long range as the 36ers built a 10-point lead without an offensive contribution from star guard Cotton.
A day after last-placed Illawarra upset top-ranked Melbourne United, another boilover loomed when the hosts rallied to lead behind a 33-point second quarter.
Jackson-Cartwright found his groove, Karim Lopez got to the rim, and Izaiah Brockington fired up.
That's when the wheels fell off, the Breakers scoreless in the first six minutes of the final quarter.
Missed lay-ups and poor rebounding stalled the hosts' momentum as the 36ers built a seven-point lead.
Cotton needed no invitation, turning the knife with a step-back triple for a nine-point lead entering the final three minutes, before the Breakers finally woke up to ensure a nervy finish.
Victory improved the 36ers to 7-2, while the Breakers, fresh off a big win on the road against the Hawks, fell to 3-8.
The Breakers now begin a run of four straight road games against the Sydney Kings on Sunday.
NZ Breakers 79 (Brockington 25, Jackson-Cartwright 21, Lopez 11)
Adelaide 36ers 83 (Cotton 23, Cameron 13, Cheatham 13)
