New Zealand Breakers moved a step closer to defending their NBL title with a pulsating overtime victory against Perth Wildcats in game one of the grand final series in Auckland.
The Breakers and Wildcats were deadlocked at 84-84 at full-time, before the home side edged ahead in the extra period to triumph 104-98.
It was a thrilling game in which the Wildcats came back from a 15-point deficit at half-time to lead well into the last quarter before the Breakers, who were without swingman Thomas Abercrombie, came back to force overtime in the first of the best-of-three game series.
"It's really hard to take because we set very high standards with the Wildcats, with work ethic and intensity," Wildcats coach Rob Beveridge told Grandstand.
"We want to outwork teams and we didn't do that consistently enough."
Breakers coach Andrej Lemanis felt the game proved to be the ideal endorsement for the NBL.
"That's what grand finals should be about, two teams going at it giving it everything they've got," he said.
"Players making plays, massive swings of momentum throughout and everyone staying focussed on the task.
"So, I think that's good for the league."
The Wildcats started brilliantly, scoring the first 11 points and getting Abercrombie's replacement Leon Henry into early foul trouble.
But the Breakers offence, orchestrated brilliantly by Cedric Jackson, came quickly back with a barrage of three-pointers and a 14-0 run helped the hosts take a 28-24 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Breakers continued their momentum in the second quarter, keeping the Wildcats to just 11 points in the term with some stellar defence, while scoring 22 themselves to lead 50-35 at half-time.
Any thoughts the game would be one-sided were blown away when the Wildcats, led by Kevin Lisch and Matthew Knight, dominated the early stages after the break to take a 54-53 lead four minutes into the third quarter.
The Breakers managed to regain their composure and led at three-quarter time, but the Wildcats were the better team early in the last quarter. They had a six-point lead well inside the final period, but some late Jackson points earned a shot at overtime.
The Wildcats led for much of the overtime period but some crucial intercepts and two key plays from CJ Bruton helped the home team secure the points they needed.
Jackson top scored for the Breakers with 25 points, while Lisch posted a game-high 27 points for the Wildcats.
The Breakers will attempt to secure the series in Perth next weekend.
ABC/AAP
Tags: nbl, basketball, sport, new-zealand, perth-6000 First posted April 12, 2012 20:06:16
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