NZ prevail as Edwards’ exit cripples Cairns comeback
Cairns have been left to rue the early exit of star Rob Edwards as they fell to an eighth-straight loss and New Zealand jumped to the top of the NBL standings.
The Breakers won 77-69 in Cairns on Saturday afternoon, the hosts coming from 12 points behind to grab a fourth-quarter lead before New Zealand’s 12-point run sealed the contest.
Edwards was the key for the Taipans, the import with 33 points at the final break as he sought to become just the seventh Taipan to have a 40-point game.
But he gave away an unnecessary fourth foul early in the term and then was called for an offensive foul just as Cairns had hit the lead, forcing him out of the game.
They scored just three points in the final five minutes and 10 in the quarter, Matt Mooney (15 points) hitting a long-range dagger to push his side back in front as part of a player-of-the-match performance
In his last game for the Breakers before a move to Italy’s Olimpia Milano, Freddie Gillespie (eight points, eight rebounds) hustle created opportunities for himself and his teammates.
Edwards had scored half of the Taipans’ points when he fouled out, Akoldah Gak (11 points, eight rebounds) the only other Taipans player in double-digits as he went five-of-seven from the field.
The Breakers were missing Jonah Bolden (calf) while guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright (11 points, seven rebounds, five assists) shot just three-of-11 from the field.
The Breakers’ teenage Mexican Next Star Karim Lopez produced a handful of highlight reel moments in a nine-point, three rebound performance.
Cairns fell to 3-9 while the Breakers enter the FIBA international playing window at 7-3.
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