NZ Breakers

NBA Legend to Visit SKYCITY Breakers

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:26:00 +1100

Basketball royalty comes to town this weekend with the visit of former NBA superstar Vlade Divac to Auckland, primarily to raise funds and awareness for the charitable foundation set up in his and his wife’s name, with a dinner being held in his honour on the Saturday night.

While in Auckland however, the former LA Lakers superstar and FIBA Hall of Famer will pay a visit to the current iiNet champions, the SKYCITY Breakers. Divac will attend practice on Saturday morning and work with the SKYCITY Breakers big men at their Atlas Place gym.

Divac is here in New Zealand to speak at the dinner, a night that will also feature music and folk dance from the children of the Serbian Saint King Milutin community.

ABOUT THE FOUNDATION

Foundation Ana and Vlade Divac was established in 2007, after almost 20 years of family’s devotion to charitable work in numeroushumanitarian projects and assistance to all those in need. Throughout their charitable initiatives, Ana and Vlade Divac have raised over 15 million US dollars for humanitarian aid and educational programs not only in Serbia, but also in many other affected countries and regions all over the world. The objective of the Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation is to provide financial and all other resources to meet physical, psychosocial and other needs of refugees, internally displaced and abandoned persons, regardless of their gender, religion, nationality, or any other affiliation or commitment.

Divac Foundation is deeply devoted to young people and promotion of positive role models among youth. The focus of youth related initiatives is promotion of sport activities among youth and refurbishment of state owned sports and kindergarten playgrounds across Serbia. The objective of all these activities and initiatives is to create better and healthier environment for children and youth is Serbia.

ABOUT VLADE

Drafted into the NBA in 1989 by the Los Angeles Lakers, Vlade Divac became the Lakers' first-ever Serbian draft pick. He was also one of the first European players to have an impact in the league. Under the mentorship of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson, he improved his play and adapted to the American style of the game. Despite the fact that he didn't speak any English, he quickly became popular among the teammates and the public for his charm and joviality. In the 1989/90 season, he was selected into the NBA All-Rookie Team. He was traded to the Charlotte Hornets for the draft rights to Kobe Bryant in 1996 and spent two seasons playing there. During the lockout period, in January 1999, he played two games for Partizan's "eternal rival" KK Crvena Zvezda in the 1998–99 Euroleague season. He then signed as a free agent with the Sacramento Kings where he would play for six seasons alongside fellow countryman Predrag Stojakovi?. Along with Stojakovi?, Chris Webber and Mike Bibby, Divac revitalised the Sacramento Kings franchise. The Sacramento Kings rose in the NBA ranks, becoming a perennial playoff contender and later on a championship contender and was at one point the best team in the NBA, leading the league in number of wins in 2001–02. The Sacramento Kings however, could not get past the Los Angeles Lakers, who beat them in a seven-game series in 2002.

After the 2003–04 NBA season, he became a free agent. He signed a deal to return to the Lakers and was part of a grand plan to overhaul Laker basketball. The Lakers, following a defeat in the NBA Finals, had traded away or released most of their players, including Shaquille O'Neal, Gary Payton, Karl Malone, Derek Fisher and more; Divac was supposed to fill that void. However, Divac suffered back problems and was unable to play for most of the season, and even when he returned, was only able to play about nine minutes per game, averaging 2.3 points per game and 2.1 rebounds per game in 15 games, he played eight games early in the season and seven more in the final month of the season. On July 14, 2005, Divac announced his retirement, ending his 16-year NBA basketball career.

Professional basketball career:

1983–1986 KK Sloga (Yugoslavia)

1986–1989 KK Partizan (Yugoslavia)

1989–1996 Los Angeles Lakers

1996–1998 Charlotte Hornets

1999 Red Star Belgrade (Yugoslavia)

1999–2004 Sacramento Kings

2004–2005 Los Angeles Lakers

Career highlights and awards:

1989 - European Player of the Year

1990 - NBA All-Rookie First Team

1991 - FIBA's 50 Greatest Players

2000 - J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award

2001 - NBA All-Star

50 Greatest Euroleague Contributors

2009 #21 Retired by the Sacramento Kings

FIBA Hall of Fame induction

NBA Career and statistics:

Points: 13,398 (11.8 ppg)

Rebounds: 9,326 (8.2 rpg)

Blocks: 1,631 (1.4 bpg)

Other interesting facts:

Named to the 1989–90 NBA All-Rookie First Team after averaging 8.5 ppg and 6.2 rpg for the Lakers

Appeared in the 1991 NBA Finals against the Chicago Bulls and averaged 12.1 ppg, 7.5 rpg and 2.4 apg in 121 career NBA Playoff games

Ranks 4th in Lakers franchise history with 830 blocked shots

Ranked 2nd on the Sacramento Kings in scoring (14.3 ppg), rebounds (10.0 rpg, 10th in the NBA), assists (4.3 apg) and blocked shots (1.02 bpg) in 1998–99

Ranked 12th in the NBA in field-goal percentage (.503) in 1999–2000

Only basketball player born and trained in Europe to play at least 1,000 NBA games (1,134)

Over his 16 years in the NBA, Divac made over $93,000,000 in salary.

One of only two basketball players born and trained in Europe (Dražen Petrovi? is the other) to have his number retired by an NBA team.

Divac is the current President of Serbian Olympic Committee.

Divac received a prestigious honour from the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame.

R18 Report: Breakers overwhelm Wildcats

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:05:00 +1100

BOXSCORE

The New Zealand Breakers fended off the visiting Perth Wildcats 83-77 at the North Shore Events Centre on Thursday, in a battle befitting the two best teams in the iiNet NBL Championship.

In front of their fifth-straight sell-out crowd, the Breakers secured their fifth-straight victory by scoring 17 unanswered points in the third quarter to take control of the contest.

American Kevin Lisch led all scorers with 20 points for Perth, but compatriot Gary Wilkinson had 18 and Cedric Jackson a 15-point, 10-assist double for the Breakers.

Tom Abercrombie, Jackson and Alex Pledger ignited a 15-2 run that swept New Zealand into a double-figure lead midway through the opening period, taking a 31-24 quarter-time lead on 75% shooting from the field and eight assists.

Perth roared past the Breakers early in the second thanks to six straight points from giant Luke Nevill, and only a pair of threes from CJ Bruton (14 points, 4/5 three-pointers) kept the home team within two points at half-time.

Lisch already had 14 points and his team enjoyed a massive advantage around the boards, out-rebounding their rivals two-to-one and outscoring them 8-0 in second-chance points.

The Breakers lifted after the break, luring their opponents into early foul trouble and overwhelming them on the scoreboard. By the time Perth ended their 7m 39s drought they were in a double-figure hole and 66-54 in arrears entering the home stretch.

The Wildcats raise their intensity for one last rally, but a Bruton trey with just under five minutes remaining provided the final nail in their coffin.

Perth triumphed in the possession stakes despite Mika Vukona’s strong 11-point, 10-rebound performance, New Zealand's superior conversion from the field (47 per cent) and the arc (10-of-22) proving the difference.

New Zealand Breakers 83 (Wilkinson 18, Jackson 15, Bruton 14, Abercrombie 12, Vukona 11)
Perth Wildcats 77 (Lisch 20, Redhage 15, Nevill 14)

Crowd: 4000 (sell-out) at North Shore Events Centre, Auckland

R18 Preview: New Zealand Breakers v Perth Wildcats

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:58:00 +1100

Tip-off: Thursday, February 2, 7.30pm (local), North Shore Events Centre, Auckland

TV/Radio: SKY Sports, 7.30pm (New Zealand)/Radio Sport

Last time they met: Perth 86 (Wagstaff 23, Lisch 18, Martin 11) d New Zealand 62 (Jackson 15, Abercrombie 14, Vukona 13), Round 12, 2011/12, Challenge Stadium, Perth

Upper hand
The Wildcats can go a long way to securing first place with a season series-clinching win in Auckland.

Perth won by 24 points at home in Round 12, but last season demolished the Breakers by 40 at Challenge Stadium only to fall twice on the North Shore.

The teams’ semi-final match-up was a classic, with both teams pinching away wins before the Kiwis claimed the third game in emphatic style.

Guards CJ Bruton and Kevin Lisch have watched this rivalry grow into one of the league’s best, and they chat about the keys to Thursday’s match-up.

What do you want to take away from your opponents’ game?

CJ Bruton: They love to get up-and-in and force you into a lot of turnovers. They like to get up-and-down because they are one of the best conditioned teams in the competition, they pride themselves on that. We can’t let them force the amount of turnovers they usually do.

Kevin Lisch: It’s important for us to win the possession game, not let them get offensive rebounds – Mika Vukona is one of the best in the league at that. Keeping guys like him, Wilkinson and Abercrombie from getting cheap baskets is important.

What can’t you afford to let them take away?

KL: We can’t let them get us outside our offensive system with their fullcourt pressure.

CB: You have to attack when they commit a turnover or other opportunities present, but you still have to execute. You can’t just get in a foot race.

Is size or speed more important with the versatile frontlines both teams have?

CB: The league over the last five years has gone to more small-ball, but seven footers still dominate. When you have guys as mobile as the bigs are in our competition, they can stay in front of guards and change their shots, and at the other end of the floor dominate around the glass … that’s what Luke Nevill and Alex Pledger have been doing.

KL: I think both teams have a good combination of both, so you need to use both in the right way. Luke is playing amazing right now, along with Matty (Knight) and the versatility of Shawn (Redhage) and Jesse (Wagstaff), it makes for a fun match-up with Pledger, Wilkinson and Vukona. That’s a tough question, I don’t really know. I’ll tell you on Friday!

What about the Damian Martin v Cedric Jackson match-up?

KL: Damo, Robbo (Brad Robbins) and Jackson are three of the best defenders in the league. Jackson’s the engine that makes them go, he scores, gets rebounds and assists, it’ll be fun to watch that match-up.

CB: Both guys are very crafty in what they do, both have a solid knowledge of the game. I think Cedric’s pretty excited, he hasn’t had back-to-back bad games. He has long arms and gets his hands on a lot of balls. Damian Martin is the same, he’ll turn you in the backcourt, but we don’t have many Australian players who can handle the ball like Cedric.

And the CJ Bruton v Kevin Lisch match-up?

KL: I have a lot of respect for CJ and the way he plays and goes about his business. The bottom line is he just gets the job done, whether he is starting or coming off the bench it doesn’t matter, and he thrives in those big situations.

CB: Kevin’s been great, he was something our league needed. The professionalism he brings, the way he approaches practice every day, the way he plays the game. Having said that, I am happy to kick his backside on the floor!

KL: The feeling’s mutual.

The wrap
The Breakers and Wildcats play with a remarkable combination of speed, intensity and physicality while executing their skills at a high level.

Both teams play similar styles, so execution, shooting, poise and hustle will most likely be the determining factors.

Prediction: Breakers by 1

R17 Report: Breakers smash Kings in front of record crowd

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:16:00 +1100

BOXSCORE

A record Vector Arena crowd saw the New Zealand Breakers thrash the visiting Sydney Kings 93-64 to record their fourth-straight win.

Almost 8000 fans crammed into the downtown Auckland stadium, the most ever to attend a basketball game in New Zealand.

None went home disappointed as American Gary Wilkinson scored 18 points to lead a balanced attack.

Tom Abercrombie (16 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists) and Cedric Jackson (10 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals) also led the way for the defending champs, while centre Julian Khazzouh scored 20 points for the Kings.

“It was good fun playing in front of that many people,” said Breakers coach Andrej Lemanis. “We’re glad we could give them a game they could enjoy and go home happy.

“But I thought we were in and out of the game. There were times we showed some Breaker basketball and played well defensively, but other times we were a little all over the place.”

Wilkinson opened his team’s scoring when he tipped in a Mike Vukona miss, but Ben Madgen matched that with a fall-away in the lane.

Treys from Abercrombie and Wilkinson allowed the hosts to open up a seven-point advantage, but a 10-3 run from the Kings quickly locked it up again.

The Breakers were creating twice as many looks at the basket , but were struggling to capitalise with Khazzouh and American Jerai Grant patrolling the paint.

Khazzouh hit consecutive buckets to edge the Kings ahead for the first time early in the second quarter, but a 17-3 outburst gave the Breakers a 45-34 lead to the delight of the deafening crowd.

“We had a two-minute period in the second quarter where we had a good little lead, but then we turned the game,” Sydney coach Ian Robilliard said.

“We made a couple of bad turnovers and bad shot selections that just swung the momentum. For us, it was very disappointing to play like that after a month where we’ve played well.”

Smelling blood in the water, the Breakers applied full-court pressure after the restart and got the margin to 17 points on another Abercrombie trey, effectively ending the contest.

The victors enjoyed a 48-28 superiority in the paint and dished out 26 assists in a fine team performance.

Victory elevated the Breakers to 14-5 for the season ahead of their top-of-the-table clash with Perth Wildcats at North Shore Events Centre next Thursday.

New Zealand Breakers 93 (Wilkinson 18, Abercrombie 16, Jackson 10)
Sydney Kings 64 (Khazzouh 20, Bose 13)

Crowd: 7979 (sell-out) at Vector Arena, Auckland

It's a SELL OUT and Highest Crowd Attendance Number

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:14:00 +1100

With a sold out crowd at Vector Arena tonight guaranteeing a new record crowd for a game of basketball in New Zealand, SKYCITY Breakers General Manager Richard Clarke is now urging fans to arrive early and avoid congestion for the game against the Sydney Kings. With 7979 fans having made the commitment to come to the game, Clarke would like nothing more than to have each and every one of them seated for the fanfare and excitement surrounding the arrival of the team to the stadium playing floor. “The response to tonight’s game has been fantastic, our fourth consecutive sell out but of course our first at Vector Arena. This really is a landmark day for the club, one we have been building towards for some years, something that is down to the hard work of many people over recent years, not the least of whom are the players and coaches who are thrilled at the support they are getting. “Many of the fans will be first time visitors to a SKYCITY Breakers game so we urge everyone to get to Vector Arena early, get a feel for the stadium and find their seats in plenty of time to welcome the players and coaches. Game nights with the SKYCITY Breakers are more than just 40 minutes of basketball, the show really begins from the moment people arrive when doors open at 6pm. The first big moment of the night though is just after 7pm when the players from both teams are introduced and our team would like nothing better than to hear the roar of close to 8,000 fans when they are introduced on to the court. “We will have pre-game entertainment, music and crowd education for those that have not been before so everyone can be fully involved. One of our catch phrases for the fans is to ‘be the best 6^th man’ by supporting the team vocally and physically, coming to a SKYCITY Breakers game is not the time to sit quietly, we want everyone to have a great time and feel they are helping the players achieve a win on court.”

SKYCITY Breakers on track for Fourth Sell Out in a Row

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:46:00 +1100

Your SKYCITY Breakers are way on track for another SELL OUT for Friday night’s game against the Sydney Kings at Vector Arena. This will be the club’s fourth consecutive sell-out, a club record in a regular season. Less than 750 tickets remain available on which will surely be another HUGE night for the team and its fans.

Furthermore, it is going to be an historic night again as it will break the highest number of crowd (6900) seen in a basketball game in NZ which was achieved earlier in the season. This will also be the SKYCITY Breakers’ last Vector Arena regular season home game and the team looks to be undefeated in this venue in three games this season.

There will definitely be lots of entertainment on court and during halftime as the ‘Auckland DongFang Dance Group’ will be performing coinciding with the Chinese New Year celebrations. So come along for a great night out this Friday as this will surely be the hottest ticket in town!

Also, catch up with your favourite SKYCITY Breakers player after the game as they will be heading to the Nation’s Clubrooms from 10.30pm -11.30pm at SKYCITY to mix and mingle with the fans (Please note it is R20 entry)

See you all at the game. Click here to buy your tickets.

GO SKYCITY Breakers!

R17 Preview: New Zealand Breakers v Sydney Kings

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:38:00 +1100

Tip-off: Friday, January 27, 7.30pm (local), Vector Arena, Auckland

TV/Radio: SKY Sports, 7.30pm (New Zealand)/Radio Sport

Last time they met: New Zealand 76 (Bruton 21, Wilkinson 20, Corletto 10) d Sydney 59 (Khazzouh 16, Grant 12, Bruce 11), Round 4, 2011/12, Vector Arena, Auckland

World class
Thomas Abercrombie was fifth in scoring and second in rebounding among small forwards at the 2010 FIBA World Championship. Mika Vukona was second in assists, sixth in rebounding and 10th in scoring among power forwards.

CJ Bruton was second in assist to turnover ratio at the 2008 Olympics. Dillon Boucher, Alex Pledger and BJ Anthony have all represented New Zealand at the highest level.

Import Cedric Jackson was the conference Defensive Player of the Year while at Cleveland State, and Gary Wilkinson was the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2009.

That’s a lot of talent on one club’s roster, so how do you beat the New Zealand Breakers?

In the flow
The theory on defeating the Perth Wildcats is to meet fire with fire, not taking a backward step against their aggressive approach.

The Breakers play a similar style – disruptive on defence, quick in transition and fluid offensively. Making them improvise in the halfcourt is a good start.

In five defeats this season, New Zealand have averaged nine assists – in wins that number is above 20. While some of that comes down to shooting, a lot of it is curbing their flow.

The Breakers’ offence involves beautifully timed screens, curls, flares, back cuts, hand-offs and reversals. There is never just one movement, and one action leads to another.

When teams take away that automatic next pass it can lead to one-on-one play, as Cairns showed in Game 2 of last year’s grand final. While they have excellent individual talent, New Zealand are at their best as a team.

Don’t hold back
Attacking the Breakers’ defence is also a key, despite the extra risk that requires.

Teams that conquered New Zealand have averaged 17.4 turnovers a game, yet losing opponents have coughed up only 14.6.

Controlling the tempo but still capitalising on opportunities that arise from the Breakers’ aggressive defence is vital, even if that means a few more turnovers.

In losses, New Zealand have miscued 19.6 times a game and shot a woeful 26-of-105 from the three-point line. When made to dance to someone else’s beat the well-oiled Breakers machine can develop a couple of hitches.

Attack the defenders
The Breakers have averaged 23.6 fouls a game in defeats, but less than 20 in wins.

Most importantly, their key defenders – Jackson, Vukona, Abercrombie and Boucher – commit 14.2 fouls in losses compared to 10.7 in wins.

This means they often spend less time on court and can’t play with the same aggression when they are on the floor.

As a result New Zealand generate less run from their defence. They shoot 68 field-goal attempts in losses compared to 71 in wins, despite holding a 6.5 rebound advantage across those five games – 2.2 above their season average.

Making the Breakers’ defence the hunted instead of the hunter is crucial to overcoming the defending champs.

The wrap
Can the Kings do it? Probably not.

While it is easy to write about beating the Breakers, out-playing a team so loaded with talent and teamwork is a very tough ask, especially in Auckland.

Sydney were extremely competitive against perennial-finalists Perth and Townsville the past two weeks, showing they have enough talent even without a dominant performance from centre Julian Khazzouh.

Their final seven minutes against Perth demonstrated how inexperienced this Kings team is, however, and in front of more than 7000 raucous Breakers fans the task will be too much.

Prediction: Breakers by 12

SKYCITY Breakers Aim Up at Sydney Off Court as well as On

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:40:00 +1100

The SKYCITY Breakers return to Vector Arena for the third and final time in the regular season when they host the Sydney Kings this Friday night. Ironically it is a chance to take back the season high crowd number for the iiNet Championship from Sydney, who drew a season best 7,500 to their game against the Perth Wildcats on Friday night.

As well as claiming that season high crowd, it was a game that reminded the rest of the league of the ability within the Sydney side too, with Graeme Dann having two free throws inside the final second of the match to win it for Sydney, only to miss both and hand Perth a nail biting one point win to maintain their record alongside the SKYCITY Breakers at the top of the table.

Tickets are already selling well for the game on the back of three consecutive sell outs at the North Shore Events Centre, with SKYCITY Breakers General Manager Richard Clarke urging fans to buy early this week to not only confirm the best seats available, but to ensure there are no delays on game night.

“The run of sell outs at the North Shore Events Centre has been a huge boost for the club but in particular for the players and coaches. For them to know hours and even days ahead of tip off that a full house will greet them when they run out on the floor is a great fillip for their confidence. This Friday has the potential to be something special again this season and who knows, perhaps exceed the 6,900 from our first home game against the same opposition. It would be great if we can beat the 7,500 that Sydney had last Friday night, that just adds a little to the rivalry on court I guess.

“For anyone that hasn’t been to a SKYCITY Breakers game before, we encourage them to arrive nice and early and settle in for the pre game entertainment, in particular the team introductions. It is something a bit different to many other sports. The last thing you want to be doing is queuing for tickets outside while the action is underway, ideally if everyone is seated by 7pm it would be perfect.”

The club is already well on target to break the 7,000 mark and in doing so set another record for a basketball game here in New Zealand, and that 7,500 might be within reach too given 5,600 tickets have already sold for Friday night’s game.

Meanwhile Mika Vukona is expected to be fit for action on Friday night after suffering an ankle sprain in the win over the Tigers last week. Vukona rolled the ankle early in the second half but returned after treatment and with further attention in the days since is expected to be ready to suit up on Friday.

Media are welcome to all sessions this week ahead of the Friday night game.

Race Heats Up To Determine New Zealand's Favourite Sporting Moment

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 07:51:00 +1100

The race to determine ‘New Zealand’s Favourite Sporting Moment’ for 2011, which will be announced at the 2011 Westpac Halberg Awards, is heating up with Rugby, Rugby League and Basketball emerging as the serious contenders, with only three weeks remaining before public voting closes.

On the back of recent speculation that the try by Lewis Brown that sent the Warriors to the NRL Grand Final was leading the Favourite Moment vote count, All Blacks fans have come out en masse to close the gap, putting the final whistle of the Rugby World cup back in contention for the big prize.

And with the NZ Breakers season in full swing, surges in votes to crown their historic win in the 2011 ANBL Final against the Taipans as the Favourite Moment for 2011, suggest the Breakers may be the dark horse in the race to the finish.

Halberg Trust Fundraising and Events Manager, Grant McCabe, says that while the recent swing of support for the All Blacks isn’t surprising, ‘New Zealand’s Favourite Sporting Moment’ for 2011 is far from over.

“We are aware that public opinion can change quickly, but if last year’s voting pattern is anything to go by, we can expect to see more sports fans let their fingers do the talking as the deadline approaches.”

One lucky voter will win four tickets to attend the Awards (including accommodation and travel) and will be hosted by event partner High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ), a new subsidiary of SPARC.To be eligible for the prize draw, voters must submit their vote before midnight on Monday 6 February. Official voting closes at 12 noon on Thursday 09 February, the day of the Westpac Halberg Awards.

The public can vote through www.skysport.co.nz or by texting their vote.
NZ Breakers – Text SM1 to 2227

R16 Report: Breakers add to Tigers' tears

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:56:00 +1100

BOXSCORE

After a tumultuous week, the Melbourne Tigers found no relief at a sold-out North Shore Events Centre, falling 91-77 to the New Zealand Breakers on Thursday.

The defending iiNet NBL champions rattled off 12 unanswered points late in the second quarter to shake their plucky guests, and they never let them back into the race.

American Gary Wilkinson led a balanced New Zealand scoresheet with 21 points, while point guard Cedric Jackson compiled a double-double of 10 points and 12 assists.

Forward Liam Rush and Daniel Dillon paced the Tigers with 18 points each.

With import Ayinde Ubaka’s departure, skipper Tommy Greer was promoted into Melbourne's starting lineup, but rival Tom Abercrombie had the Breakers on the board first, cutting along the baseline for a contested layup.

Jackson also found his way to basket early, before Rush and Ron Dorsey brought the visitors level.

Neither side could gain an upper hand over the opening period, which ended at 21-21.

Giant centre Alex Pledger produced the first real advantage of the contest soon after the restart when he jammed home an-alley oop pass from Jackson and then tipped in a missed jumper from Mika Vukona.

While Melbourne matched that initial surge, former Tiger Daryl Corletto struck from the arc to regain momentum. When he converted a three-point play moments later the margin was in double figures.

A barrage of treys from CJ Bruton (three) and Wilkinson extended the gap to 72-53 late in the third quarter.

The Breakers drew out to a 22-point lead, but a late-game surge from Dillon and Cam Tragardh brought some respectability to the scoreboard.

New Zealand Breakers 91 (Wilkinson 19, Abercrombie 13, Corletto 12, Vukona 12, Pledger 12, Jackson 10)
Melbourne Tigers 77 (Dillon 18, Rush 18, Tragardh 12, Burston 10)

Crowd: 4000 (sell-out) at North Shore Events Centre, Auckland