Suns survive scare against Breakers
THE New Zealand Breakers came within just five points of pulling off a historic upset against the Phoenix Suns.
The Suns, led by this year’s No.1 NBA draft pick Deandre Ayton, beat the Breakers 91-86 in a sparsely populated Talking Stick Arena in Phoenix yesterday in the latest clash of the seven-game NBL-NBA exhibition series.
The Suns were considered the most vulnerable target of the visiting NBL squads seeking a win against a team from the world’s best basketball league. They had the NBA’s worst record last season and against the Breakers were without injured Devin Booker.
The Breakers scored the first basket of the game but the Suns quickly took control and did just enough to maintain a buffer throughout. The Suns led 28-20 at the end of the first quarter and 52-42 at halftime.
In the final minute the Breakers, led by Aucklandborn star guard guard Corey Webster, cut the lead to four points.
The Suns’ best was 216cm centre Ayton who had 21 points and 15 rebounds. Webster had 27 points and seven assists for the Breakers while forward Tai Wesley added 15 points and seven rebounds.
The NBL-NBA series concludes tomorrow with Melbourne United up against the Toronto Raptors, Perth Wildcats against the Denver Nuggets and the Adelaide 36ers facing the Utah Jazz.
The past week the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Sydney Kings 110-91, the Jazz crushed the Wildcats 130-72 and Philadelphia 76ers prevailed 104-84 over Melbourne United.