Impressive Breakers all but clinch playoff spot
After all but clinching a finals spot with a heated 103-87 win over the Brisbane Bullets at Spark Arena, the New Zealand Breakers will be ready for the step up in intensity that comes with elimination basketball.
Because that’s essentially what last night’s game was.
The equation was simple for the two teams: win and move on to the post-season, lose and find yourself cheering on the South East Melbourne Phoenix against the Sydney Kings tonight.
It would take an absolute hammering against the ninth-placed Adelaide 36ers tomorrow for the Breakers to miss the playoffs now, with points percentage the tiebreaking factor should teams finish even on wins.
With campaigns at stake, the fact the Breakers and Bullets had split their two previous meetings this season, and that this would be longtime Breaker Tom Abercrombie’s last regular-season game at home, it was as high tension a clash as a fan could hope for at this stage of the season.
The shots were falling but it was the Breakers’ effort that was making the difference. Playing every possession like it could be the one that got them over the line, they out-hustled and frustrated the Bullets.
But they also got contributions across the rotation, with eight of the nine players to take the floor getting on the score sheet — five reaching double figures. But foul trouble was an issue — as it has been throughout the season — and they had four players finish one foul away from being ejected.
The Breakers got off to a great start. Point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright was proving something of an enigma for the Bullets. Using his speed to weave through the defence, the reliable import put 10 points up in the first quarter but also picked out teammates for easy buckets.
Defensively, the hosts made a strong start, as they didn’t allow Brisbane any easy points. Drawing two early offensive fouls on Brisbane big man Tyrell Harrison didn’t hurt the Breakers’ cause in the opening stanza, as they closed out the quarter with a five-point lead; a buzzerbeating three from Chris Smith edging the Bullets closer.
As the Bullets worked it back to a one-possession game with just under six minutes left in the half, the tension on the court began to boil over.
Breakers defensive ace Izayah Le’afa and Bullets guard Nathan Sobey had to be separated by the referee, before Finn Delany appeared to get under the skin of 2014 NBA champion Aron Baynes moments later.
As Delany was running back on defence, he made a point of bodying up on Baynes, who was momentarily alone at the other end of the court. The led to the two exchanging words as Delany moved out to mark the ball-handler.
It didn’t end there; Baynes setting a hard screen as Delany tracked the ball, sending the Breakers guard to the floor. It was called for an offensive foul, and Baynes left the court having picked up his second foul, as Delany applauded from the hardwood.
It was one of several impactful moments Delany had in the quarter as the Breakers rebuilt their lead to a comfortable 15 points by halftime; with the exclamation point put on the quarter by a buzzer-beating three from Abercrombie.
The second half followed a similar pattern. Brisbane made solid starts to the third and fourth quarters to eat into the Breakers’ lead but the hosts went on with the job and closed out a comfortable and crucial win.
NZ Breakers 103 (Parker Jackson-Cartwright 27 points, Zylan Cheatham 19) Brisbane Bullets 87 ( Josh Bannan 29 points, Nathan Sobey 16) 1Q: 26-21. HT: 55-40. 3Q: 75-63.