Breakers remain on track for top two
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Loading... - Cooper Orah
- 03 Feb 2023
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The New Zealand Breakers had to overcome a 16-point deficit but shrugged off a rough first half in Wollongong to take a step closer to securing second place in the NBL with the 91-81 win over the Illawarra Hawks.
The Breakers came into the last round needing to beat the bottom two teams on the road to leapfrog the Cairns Taipans into second position and earn an automatic semi-final berth.
The Hawks shocked the Breakers in Auckland a couple of weeks ago with a half-court winner and the home team was out to do it again in their second last game.
The Hawks produced a tremendous first half performance including 30 points in the first quarter before opening up a game-high 16-point lead by half-time.
Illawarra was shooting 60 per cent for the half and New Zealand 35 but the Breakers were doing most things right except not nailing their shots, including eight offensive rebounds to half-time.
The Breakers shot better in the second half, the Hawks couldn't quite maintain their pace and New Zealand pulled away with too much at stake.
The Breakers closed the third quarter with a 23-4 run and then after the Hawks got back within one, they scored 15 of the game's last 21 points to win by 10. That improves New Zealand to 17-10 and a win in Brisbane on Saturday will lock them into second position. Read More…
