Breakers prolong Phoenix’s winless start to NBL season
The New Zealand Breakers have prolonged South East Melbourne’s winless start to the NBL season by grinding out an 81-79 victory in their home opener.
The Breakers trailed by as many as 10 points in the first quarter as both sides struggled to get their eye in at Auckland’s Spark Arena on Sunday.
But MVP fancy Parker Jackson-Cartwright (19 points, seven assists, four steals) hit back-to-back baskets on an 11-0 run in the fourth quarter that proved critical for Petteri Koponen’s side.
Ex-NBA forward Matt Hurt sank a three-pointer in the final seconds to cut the Phoenix’s deficit to only one point and make the Breakers nervous, but time was against the visitors.
Last season’s wooden spooners have now dropped their first three games of the new campaign.
But it wasn’t all doom and gloom as star recruit Nathan Sobey shook off a tough first two games with the Phoenix to find his rhythm on both ends.
The 2020 Olympic bronze medallist put up 10 points in the space of two minutes across half-time, landing a floater from a tough angle, then forcing a timeout just before the break when he drove through the basket on a three-point play.
Sobey finished as the game’s top scorer with 24 points at 47 per cent shooting accuracy from the field.
But when Sobey missed a bunny on transition in the final minute, the Phoenix had given themselves a mountain to climb, down seven points with the seconds ticking away.
NBL championship winner and fellow Phoenix recruit Derrick Walton was kept quiet, taking until the final 70 seconds of the third quarter to net his first points.
He and fellow guard Sobey both fouled out in the final minute as the Phoenix needed a steady hand to pull the Breakers back in.
Breakers centre Freddie Gillespie had five points and four rebounds on his return from a suspension incurred for headbutting Sydney Kings guard Shaun Bruce in the pre-season.
The Breakers now head to the US for a series of friendlies against NBA sides, while the Phoenix will desperately try to snap their losing streak on the road against Adelaide on Thursday.
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