Breakers Falter Late as 36ers Secure Road Victory
The New Zealand Breakers appeared poised to upset Adelaide, but a six-minute scoring drought in the final quarter cost them dearly. Adelaide managed to escape Christchurch with an 83-79 win.
Game Flow and Key Moments
The Breakers held a two-point lead entering the fourth quarter on Thursday, yet struggled offensively, converting only two free throws and missing 14 straight field-goal attempts in the first eight minutes of the final period.
Bryce Cotton, who scored 23 points and provided six assists, started slowly but then nailed a step-back three-pointer to give the 36ers a nine-point lead, seemingly sealing the game before their upcoming clash against Perth on Sunday.
Breakers’ Late Surge
After a back-and-forth night, the Breakers fought back with five quick points and applied full-court pressure to force turnovers, closing the gap to two points in the last 90 seconds.
Decisive Plays and Final Moments
Both teams engaged in a physical, foul-heavy game. Zylan Cheatham’s 13 points and eight rebounds included two crucial free throws with 14 seconds remaining that effectively secured the victory for Adelaide.
Breakers guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright contributed 21 points, 10 assists, five rebounds, and three steals but missed a key second free throw late in the game. Opponent Isaac White (12 points, four assists) also scored an important basket down the stretch.
"We fought today and our defence gave us the opportunity and then it comes down to the small things, small details," said Breakers coach Petteri Koponen. "It wasn't our night, but we found a way to come back and have chances."
Summary: Despite a strong effort and late rally, the Breakers' prolonged scoring drought in the final quarter allowed the Adelaide 36ers to grind out a narrow away win.