Breakers live another day at 36ers’ expense

AUCKLAND: Adelaide's NBL hopes have been virtually buried while New Zealand Breakers live to fight another day after the long bombs of the hosts propelled them to a 11389 win in Auckland.

In their most punishing offensive display of the season, the Breakers sunk 20 of 37 threepoint shots last night, including seven of 11 from captain Tom Abercrombie.

An offkey Adelaide was powerless to stop the onslaught, in a match that pitted two teams which entered on the same 1113 record and sitting just outside the top four.

A seventh loss in their last 10 games leaves the 36ers with only a slim mathematical chance of reaching the postseason, having also fallen painstakingly short 12 months ago.

The Breakers remain sixth but still within sight of Brisbane (1311) and Melbourne (1212), who they must leapfrog over the closing two weeks.

Veteran Abercrombie came within two points of a careerhigh return with 31 points. FellowKiwi forward Finn Delany was just as impressive, mixing 21 points with 11 rebounds, while guard Sek Henry contributed 18 points in what was comfortably their highest team score of the season.

The Breakers have won eight of their last 11 games but will need to continue that form in two crunch games on the road, against Illawarra tomorrow and Brisbane next week.

Daniel Johnson scored 20 of his 24 points in the first half, but his fade summed up the 36ers' fortunes, who trailed just 4945 at the main break.

The third quarter was decisive for the hosts, which they won 3721. Jack McVeigh scored 20 but star guard Jerome Randle was restricted to just 10 in what was Adelaide's biggest loss of the season. — AAP