Kiwis end 36ers’ golden streak in nailbiter

ADELAIDE’S stellar run of home wins ended with a heartbreaking two-point loss to New Zealand on Sunday after Ian Clark's attempted threepoint matchwinner bounced off the rim.

The Sixers, who were shooting for a sixth win on the trot at the Entertainment Centre, played in front of a record sellout crowd for the third game in succession, with 9,368 fans in attendance leaving disappointed after the Breakers ground out an 85-83 win. The clash with the second-ranked Breakers was a good measuring stick for CJ Bruton’s fourth-placed side, the visitors improving to a 13-6 record while Adelaide still has work to do with an 11-10 record.

Bobby Brown Jr led the visitors with 16 points, with Jarrell Brantley next best with 15.

Robert Franks had a gamehigh 20 points and 13 rebounds, Antonius Cleveland got into early foul trouble but finished with 18, while Kai Sotto played one of his best games with 16 points including a superb behind-the-head dunk off an alley-oop pass.

The Sixers were their own worst enemy, committing 23 turnovers to New Zealand’s 15.

Brown, the third-ranked scorer in the league, had the hot hand early with 10 of his side’s first 14 points. Desperate for any way possible to slow his scoring, it was helpfully pointed out to the referees by the Sixers’ bench that Brown had some blood visible on his arm.

The star import was required to leave the court for treatment, but returned to torment the home side.

Three-point shooting was a key factor in the contest, the Breakers finishing with 11of-29 shooting with the Sixers just 4-of-22 from long range.