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