The two top teams in the National Basketball League will square off in Auckland tonight when reigning NBL Champions the New Zealand Breakers host current ladder-leaders the Perth Wildcats before a sell-out crowd at North Shore Events Centre to tip-off the action in Round 18 of the iiNet NBL Championship.
All tickets for the big clash have already been snapped up, with the Breakers putting up the ‘Full House’ sign for the fifth consecutive game.
Top spot on the iiNet NBL Championship ladder will be on the line, as New Zealand and Perth have identical 14-5 records, with the Wildcats holding on to the number one ranking on points–percentage alone from the second-seeded Breakers.
Both sides will enter the match in good form as well, with Perth on a six-game win streak and the Breakers having won their past four in a row.
New Zealand have something extra to prove in this one, having been soundly beaten in Perth by the Wildcats earlier in the season. Veteran Breakers guard CJ Bruton, who missed that clash due to injury, says that loss will motivate the Wildcats tonight.
"When someone slaps you upside the head and you feel like you weren't ready for it, you really want to prepare yourself so that your guard is ready this time," Bruton told The West Australian.
"Obviously we had some guys having their first time over there getting their feet wet, but as a group you expect to go over there and play well, which we weren't able to do on their floor.
"Being at home (tomorrow), Perth's got the best road record and (it is important) for us to be solid and being a winning team at home.
"Especially kicking off the new year in the right fashion, we really need to set the tone."
Bruton made it clear he is expecting a physical clash with Perth.
"It definitely will be physical. It's something that they pride themselves on," Bruton said.
"They get up and down the floor and like to get into you. They're very aggressive to the basket, everyone has a licence to shoot the ball.
"They play recklessly, but with a passion and love for the game.
Perth’s Brad Robbins agreed with Bruton’s assessment, with Robbins telling the West Australian the recent history of physical clashes between the clubs was likely to be continued tonight.
“Both teams are very physical and it's always going to happen," he said.
"I don't think there's any particular animosity and we're certainly not revving it up as if it's going to be this great big WWF hit-out, but it's just the way we both play and it's inevitable."
Breakers hard man Mika Vukona said the Round 12 loss to Perth needed to be atoned for.
"I don't know whether we owe them one, but we owe ourselves one,” Vukona told Fairfax NZ. “We let ourselves down. We thought we'd prepared well, but to play so badly was a disappointment."
Vukona made it clear the mind games had well and truly started ahead of tonight’s bout, as he questioned Perth’s ability to take their own medicine.
“They're a team that doesn't really deal well with pressure,” he said. “Taking them on at their own game is something we'll try and do."
The Breakers-Wildcats match starts at 7:30PM local Auckland time tonight.
Perth Wildcats (14-5, 1st) @ New Zealand Breakers (14-5, 2nd)
Thursday 2 February - North Shore Events Centre - 7:30 PM
TV: Broadcast LIVE on Sky Sport (check local guides)
Live Stats: Click here
Tickets: SOLD-OUT
