NZ Breakers make it four straight as they hold off fast-finishing Perth Wildcats
The wheels wobbled late, but all Breakers coach Paul Henare cared about was that they made it safely to their destination − a fourth straight Australian NBL victory.
The Breakers turned what looked a Sunday cruise over the Perth Wildcats in front of a season-best crowd of over 6000 at Vector Arena into a perilous journey when they committed eight turnovers in the last three minutes, and made rather hard work of what would eventually become a third victory for the season over their great rivals and the competition's defending champions.
But they got there in the end, 86-82 after leading by 11 (75-64) with just 2:54 left in the ball game and eight with just 1:33 remaining. Yes, it all got hairy as the turnovers mounted and the Wildcats scratched that deficit all the way back to just two points (80-78) with 14 seconds remaining.
But amid the mayhem, the Kiwi club retained just enough poise to close out a win which rockets them to joint second on the standings at 12-12. No one personified that more than young point guard Shea Ili who nervelessly slotted five of his six free-throws in the final minute to ice the result.
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"I know the turnovers (a season-high 24 in total) are going to be a talking point but that's an absolute great result for us," said coach Paul Henare. "We were the better team for the majority of the game. I'm really proud of the guys in terms of the way they've just ground it out, fought their way through, and beat one of the best rebounding teams quite convincingly (46-32) on the boards.
"There are so many positive things to take out of it. Yes, we didn't finish the game the way we wanted to but I'm just extremely proud of the guys and happy with the result."
Veteran guard Kirk Penney, who led the Breakers with a classy 25 points, added: "It's been a lot of fun. We've found a group that really battles. If we run the system we really give ourselves great looks. and even with the turnovers late, we were getting stops too to make sure we secured that win, and having that cushion also helped.
"There are so many positives you take from this game and these four games. But the nature of this season is we still have so much work to do. It's anyone's, it really is, and Thursday's game against Cairns is going to be huge for us to keep pushing forward."
With four games remaining, Henare's men may still need to win three to guarantee a spot in the post-season. But they are now a heck of a chance on the back of a run of wins that has coincided with the arrival of influential point guard Kevin Dillard who has lit a fuse under a team that was all but down for the count at 8-12.
The Wildcats drop back to 11-12, though remain right in contention for a record 31st consecutive playoff appearance. They will be kicking themselves they left their fullcourt pressing defence just too late to swing this one.
The Breakers were led by a measured display from Penney who may be an oldie now, but remains very much a goodie as he continues to remind us all what a world-class player he has been throughout his career.
The 35-year-old sharpshooter mixed some deft cuts in the paint with his trademark jumpers en route to 25 points (8/15 FG, 2/5 3PT) and six rebounds. It was a pricesless contribution.
Dillard continued his hot form with 20 points on six-of-11 shooting (three of four from deep), five boards and four assists, though again he won't be happy with the six turnovers which detracted just a little from his statline.
Paul Carter added a valuable 15 points on seven-of-10 shooting for the Breakers, while Akil Mitchell chimed in with six points and nine rebounds.
Bryce Cotton led the Wildcats with a game-high 26 points (22 of them coming in the second half), while big Angus Brandt continued his hot form with 14 points on six-of-nine shooting off the bench.
After a pretty competitive and typically abrasive first two quarters, the Breakers eked out a 39-34 halftime advantage on the back of some solid shooting (50 percent from the floor and five of nine from beyond the arc), effective defence (Cats star Cotton had just four first-half points on two-of-seven shooting) and acceptable ball-security (just eight turnovers against the Perth pressure a number they can live with).
Led by 11 first-half points from Dillard (averaging 24.3ppg, 6.0 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 3.0 steals in this winning run), the Breakers kept their noses in front throughout an opening two periods more gritty than pretty. They led 20-18 at the end of the first quarter, and extended that to five on the back of a 19-16 second stanza.
It didn't look promising for the home side when Dillard picked up a couple of quick fouls early in the third when he compounded a reach by complaining too vociferously and was teched. But they settled well and built their advantage quickly into double-figures and by as many as a dozen before a late flurry from the visitors got them back within seven (54-47) with one remaining.
The Breakers looked in control over the run home, edging out by double-figures, until that Cats press finally yielded a run of turnovers that turned this into a nail-biter.
Luckily for the Breakers they showed more poise at the free-throw line than they did bringing the ball up court, and the winning streak continues.
NZ Breakers 86 (Kirk Penney 25, Kevin Dillard 20, Paul Carter 15), Perth Wildcats 82 (Bryce Cotton 26, Angus Brandt 14, Casey Prather 13). 1Q: 20-18; HT: 39-34; 3Q: 54-47.
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