Breakers clinch spot in playoffs with win

MARC HINTON

The Breakers are back in the playoffs thanks to their first back-to-back Australian NBL victories since November.

Paul Henare’s men ground out a second successive win over the Illawarra Hawks yesterday, backing up their 77-73 Friday night victory in Wollongong with an 88-84 result that seals their return to the postseason after missing the playoffs in 2016-17.

With veteran guard Kirk Penney sitting the game out to nurse a leg injury, the Breakers knuckled down well to outlast the Hawks.

The clean sweep of round 17 improves the Kiwi outfit to 15-9 and seals their spot in the playoffs with still four games remaining. The double loss eliminates any hope the now 10-14 Hawks had of making a late run at the post-season.

The Breakers’ offence flowed a little more freely yesterday, the hosts shooting 51 per cent (30/58) from the floor, going 10 of 24 from deep and knocking down 18 of their 19 free throws.

Import DJ Newbill made a timely return to top form for the Breakers, leading thew way with 20 points on seven-of-13 shooting. He went four of seven from deep and mixed

things up nicely with a number of strong takes to the hoop.

Shea Ili added 17 points off the bench, 13 of them coming in a standout second half. He added four rebounds and five assists to complete an outstanding game.

Tom Abercrombie also found some shooting form to add 17 points (6/11 FG, 3/6 3PT), a dozen coming in the first half when he got things rolling nicely for the Breakers.

Import point guard Edgar Sosa also chipped in with a tidy 13 points and six assists for the victors.

The Hawks were paced by a game-high 22 points from Rotnei Clarke and 14 points from Mitch Norton, but could not match the Breakers down the stretch of a tight finish.

The game had been locked at 45-45 at halftime and the Australians nudged in front 68-65 at the end of the third quarter, before the Breakers rode home on some clutch Newbill shooting.