In a blockbuster match up at Titanium Arena on a Sunday afternoon, top placed New Zealand Breakers take on third placed Adelaide 36ers at Titanium Arena.
The 36ers go into the match without Mitch Creek who picked up an injury in Friday night’s loss to Perth Wildcats.
Just like the air balls for New Zealand in the second quarter, the 36ers continued their strong form with Shannon Shorter leading the way. There was a little niggle between both teams which should make for an interesting second half. Going into half time, the 36ers lead 52 points to 44.
In a high scoring first quarter, the 36ers led 29 points to 23. Sobey was top scorer but a standout for the 36ers this quarter was Deng with five points. In a stat that the Breakers will want to eliminate after this break was the number of air balls they delivered.
It was an even third quarter with 36ers showing signs of breaking away buy the Breakers would claw their way back The lead would be nine points for the 36ers going into the last break but in what may be a key moment, Delany from the Breakers was fouled out of the game with two seconds remaining in the quarter.
The fourth quarter was a story of players from the NZ Breakers dropping like flies with for players being fouled out.c The 36ers looked like they were going to win comfortably but the Breakers had other plans making it another striller for the Titanium Arena fans. In a crazy last ninety seconds, the Breakers would get within one point of the 36ers. But a huge rebound by Daniel Johnson and landing massive free throws, the 36ers would hold on for a three point win. But I think Joey Wright and his team will need to improve on closing out games in the future as their luck may change going forward.
The teams clash again this Friday night in New Zealand in what is promising to be a very absorbing clash.
Leading scorers for the Adelaide 36ers was Nathan Sobey with twenty two points while Edgar Sousa was leading scorer for the Breakers with twenty four points.
Match report by Tony Polese
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