Breakers down Crocs to level series

Updated April 05, 2012 23:47:24

The New Zealand Breakers scored a bruising 94-83 win over the Crocodiles in Townsville on Thursday night to send their NBL semi-final series to a deciding third game.

The Breakers were shocked 99-82 in Auckland in game one last Friday by the Crocs, who now need to repeat that effort to move into the championship-deciding series against Gold Coast or Perth.

Veteran CJ Bruton hit the clutch triples to finish with 18 points for the visitors, while centres Gary Wilkinson (14 points, six rebounds) and Alex Pledger (12 points, six rebounds) also had a big impact.

Dillon Boucher was also dominant in the first half before suffering a facial injury in the third quarter.

Townsville's Eddie Gill came to life late to finish with 24 points and five assists, and Michael Cedar scored 15 including a stunning 11-point second-quarter run that brought the Crocs back into the game after they trailed by 12 points.

New Zealand guard Cedric Jackson (14 points, five assists) shook off an ankle injury to get the visitors off to a solid start as he registered five points within a minute.

Townsville hit back through an impressive Todd Blanchfield alley-oop, but Boucher, Pledger, Bruton and rookie Leon Henry came off the bench to spark the Kiwis to a 27-17 quarter-time lead.

Michael and Chris Cedar put on a spectacular double-act in the second term for the Crocs, scoring 16 points between them to close the gap to four.

But eight points from Pledger, often from Boucher's exquisite passes, ensured New Zealand took a 14-point lead into the long break.

The third quarter proved a physical affair as emotions ran high amid a more committed rebounding effort from Townsville.

Boucher left the court with blood flowing from his mouth after a collision with Bruton in the sixth minute.

Consecutive baskets from Luke Schenscher and Peter Crawford, accentuated by a charge foul on Mika Vukona, then sent the crowd into overdrive.

Townsville surged within five points before two enormous triples from Bruton took the wind out of the crowd's sails and restored a double-figure advantage.

The intensity continued in the final quarter, a Gill three-pointer making the score 74-68 as he desperately rallied the home team.

But a tough Jackson fade-away and Daryl Corletto's first two buckets of the game - both long bombs - ended Townsville's hopes.

AAP

Tags: nbl, basketball, sport, qld, townsville-4810, australia, new-zealand

First posted April 05, 2012 23:47:24

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Mavs hold on to level series

By Adrian Crawford

Updated June 8, 2011 14:55:00

An off night for Dirk Nowitzki was not enough to stop Dallas from tying up its NBA Finals series against Miami with an 86-83 win in Game Four.

Proving that no lead is ever truly safe against the Mavericks, the home side rallied to win from a deficit at the final break for the sixth time in this post-season.

Averaging 11.3 fourth-quarter points per game in the three previous games in the series, Nowitzki still finished strongly despite having woken up on game day with flu-like symptoms and a fever.

The German international forward had 21 points on 6-for-19 shooting, eight of those in the final period including the go-ahead lay-up past Game Three tormentor Udonis Haslem.

"I was going to play the clock down but I saw a little opening there so I just went for it," he said.

"I was able to rip through and go to the right; they were really playing my left which obviously the whole league does, but I was able to rip through and finally finish the lay-up.

"I missed about four or five good looks around the rim today."

That bucket took the score to 84-79 in Dallas' favour but after a Miami time-out, Dwyane Wade answered with a dunk on the drive that made it a one-possession game.

Arguably one of the greatest shooting guards of all time, Wade was as aggressive in attack as he has been all series, finishing with 32 points (13-of-20) and had six rebounds and two blocks.

But the late dunk was his last contribution as Jason Terry knocked down two free throws with six seconds remaining to push the Dallas lead back to three, the hosts holding on to win.

Mike Miller's three-point attempt from 28 feet out to force an extra period was no good as time expired.

A loss would have virtually handed the Heat their second ever title and second over the Mavericks, as no team has ever overcome a 1-3 deficit in a best-of-seven series to win it all.

Having done it all in the Game Three loss, Nowitzki said he was glad to have had help from long-time team-mate Terry, the only other Maverick to have tasted Finals defeat against Miami in 2006.

"I couldn't really finish around the rim; I had a couple of good looks today but no lift," he said.

"The crew was outstanding. I thought Jet [Terry] really took it on himself today in the fourth when we were down nine.

"He made two back-to-back plays (a driving lay-up and a pull-up jumper) to get us back in the game."

Team effort

The rest of Nowitzki's supporting cast was just as good despite a difficult first period that saw both teams allowing no leeway on the defensive end.

All-Defensive second team centre Tyson Chandler had an important 13-point, 16-rebound double-double, nine of those boards coming on the offensive glass where Miami had dominated in the first quarter.

Shawn Marion showed his veteran class, the 33-year-old posting 16 points and four rebounds thanks to some deft spinning footwork in the paint and soft touches from further out.

DeShawn Stevenson, who came off the bench in favour of JJ Barea for the first time this post-season, had the hot hand in the first half with three sweet three-pointers, but could not find his range in the second half and finished with 11 points on 3-of-7 shooting.

Again it was a case of Miami's stars doing most of the work, with Chris Bosh turning in another strong performance (24 points on 9-of-19 shooting, six rebounds) to support Wade.

On the other hand there was LeBron James, whose contributions other than scoring (nine rebounds, seven assists) were impressive but only served to highlight his uncharacteristically weak shooting night.

James, chasing his first title after seven seasons and one failed trip to the Finals with Cleveland, scored just eight points on 3-of-11 shooting.

It was "The King's" first game in single-digit scoring since January 2007.

Wednesday's thriller was yet another nail-biting contest in a series which has been decided by 11 points total across the four games.

Scores were locked at 21-21 after the first period and Miami fought to a 47-45 lead by the half and there were only two points in it with a quarter to go.

The Heat rattled off five unanswered points to start the fourth before Dallas rallied with a 16-4 stretch that stole back the lead for good.

The series remains in Dallas for Game Five on Friday morning (AEST) before returning to Miami for the sixth game and a seventh if necessary.

Tags: sport, basketball, united-states

First posted June 8, 2011 14:00:00

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James helps Heat to level series

Updated May 19, 2011 15:41:00

The Miami Heat rebounded from a blowout loss in Game One to beat the Chicago Bulls 85-75 on Wednesday and level the Eastern Conference Finals at one game apiece.

"Whatever it takes," said Heat star LeBron James, who finished with 29 points.

"This is the conference finals and these are two great defensive teams. But you have to be patient... keep working the offence."

Dwyane Wade added 24 points for the Heat, who managed to steal home-court advantage from the Bulls as the series now switches to Miami.

James, who has been fighting a cold this week, said he was relieved to get the win but was also relishing the chance to go home and rest up.

"Do you hear my voice?" he asked.

"I put it all on line tonight. I am glad I got a few days to get back down to the great weather we got in Miami and get over it (cold)."

The Heat recovered down the stretch Wednesday to pull even after surrendering an 11-point lead earlier in the contest.

James drained a three pointer in the fourth to put the Heat in front for good, at 76-73.

He scored nine points in the final five minutes and also grabbed 10 rebounds as Miami outrebounded Chicago 45-41.

"The series has just started," James said.

"It's 1-1. We're excited that we were able to come here and get a win. But it's just started."

The Bulls ended Game One on a 46-24 run en route to winning the contest 103-82. The Heat limited them to just two points in the final seven minutes in Game Two.

James also grabbed 10 rebounds while Wade finished with nine rebounds for the Heat, who host Sunday's game three. Chris Bosh scored 10 points.

Udonis Haslem came off the bench to score 13 points for Miami, which defeated the Bulls for the first time this season.

"We got the one that we needed," Wade said.

"Now, we go home and we've got to take care of business. This team right here is like us. They can win at home and on the road."

Derrick Rose scored 21 points but had only two in the fourth quarter for the Bulls.

Luol Deng added 13 but had just four after the opening period. Rose and Deng were the only Chicago players to finish in double figures.

Joakim Noah finished with nine points and eight rebounds. Taj Gibson came on strong in the final quarter, scoring all of his eight points.

Carlos Boozer struggled Wednesday, sitting out the final quarter after recording seven points and eight boards.

- AFP

Tags: sport, basketball, united-states

First posted May 19, 2011 15:26:00

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