The Perth Wildcats' winning run has ended at six this afternoon at Auckland's North Shore Events Centre with the New Zealand Breakers winning the top-of-the-table clash 83-77.
The Wildcats did well to fight back from an early 11-point deficit to narrowly lead at half-time largely thanks to an 8-0 run during the second quarter.
New Zealand, though, got on top during the third period and despite the 'Cats clawing back from a 14-point deficit to get within six, that ended up being the final margin of the contest.
The game was billed as a battle of the NBL's best two teams and it certainly delivered in terms of intensity.
The Breakers now move just one game ahead of the Wildcats on top of the ladder, but the season-series between the two is tied at 1-1 now with the deciding game to be played in Perth on March 4.
The Wildcats now remain on the road to take on the Cairns Taipans next Friday night before a home clash with the Sydney Kings on February 19.
Wildcats coach Rob Beveridge after the game felt that to come away from a sold out North Shore Events Centre losing by six points despite the fact that the team's scoring dried up in the third quarter gave the 'Cats enough good signs to take away from Auckland.
However, he knows now that the Wildcats can't afford to focus solely on New Zealand if they want to remain in the hunt for top spot.
"We took them out of their offence but we just fell in a hole in that third quarter and couldn’t score. We had a lot of open looks but they just weren’t falling and at the same time they kept scoring. That was the main difference in the end," Beveridge said.
"It probably will end up coming down to that last game we play, but we have to now focus on bouncing back against Cairns. We aren’t feeling sorry for ourselves because we lost against New Zealand, we identified some areas to work on and we have to take the emotion of losing out of it, and focus on Cairns.
"We played well, had no passengers and now have to get on with it. We have to focus on Cairns and keep on winning or else it won't matter how we go against New Zealand. If we don’t keep winning and keep pace with them, we won't have a chance for that top spot. If we think too much about New Zealand, we won't get there, so all our focus is now on Cairns."
Kevin Lisch had a strong game for the Wildcats against the Breakers with 20 points, including 3-of-5 from long range, and five rebounds.
Shawn Redhage added 15 points and Luke Nevill 14 to go with his six boards and three assists.
Matt Knight scored seven points and Brad Robbins six as did Damian Martin who also had nine rebounds, seven assists, three blocks and two steals in an outstanding all-round display. Drew Williamson also added seven points and Jesse Wagstaff two.
The Wildcats got off to a good start with an early basket to Martin and then a three to Lisch. They then led 10-6 after a three-point play from Nevill and another score from Lisch, but 11 straight New Zealand points then had the home side up.
They led by as much as 11 during the opening period, but some team-lifting play from the 'Cats highlighted by a massive block from Martin on Gary Wilkinson to transition into a three from Lisch helped the Wildcats only trail by seven at quarter-time.
It was then all the Wildcats in the second quarter. Redhage started things off with the first four points and then Nevill went on a tear with six straight that saw the 'Cats assume a 34-33 lead.
A late score from Redhage had the Wildcats leading 44-42 at the main break.
An early lay-up from Robbins and then another three to Lisch to start the second half ensured the Wildcats stayed in front, but then New Zealand managed to go on a 17-0 run to lead by 13 points.
The 'Cats did close that to six with just under a minute of the game to do when Redhage was able to score, and it again got to six with a late Williamson three, but that was as close as the Wildcats got in the end.
Perth Wildcats 77 (Kevin Lisch 20, Shawn Redhage 15, Luke Nevill 14)
defeated by
New Zealand Breakers 83 (Gary Wilkinson 18, Cedric Jackson 15, CJ Bruton 14)
Box scores
