NZ Breakers Beat the Gold Coast in Double OT

CJ Bruton Vs Gold Coast

Wilkinson would stop the run with a basket and then Abercrombie would connect on a triple from outside the perimeter as the lead sat at 16 for the Breakers, 74-58.

A three-pointer from Gibson and a back door cut from Harvey, that finished with a lay-up, sparked a 7-0 run after Harvey scored again on the fast-break.

Abercrombie ended the run with a long two, but Gibson launched a long triple that was all net to bring the Blaze closer, 78-70.

After Dillon Boucher tipped in two points for the Breakers, Penney got all the way to the basket to score again, but the Blaze bounced back through Harvey on a fadeaway and then Gibson on a scoop off a drive to the rim.

The Breakers were able to keep the crowd moaning when Brasswell landed another two points, the Breakers ahead 84-74.

Penney would then crack open another long triple, the Blaze fighting back through baskets to Hoare and Chris Goulding to trim the Breakers lead to 87-79 with one quarter left to play.

The fourth quarter opened with Penney somehow missing his easiest shot off the night on a back-door cut, but Wilkinson crashed the offensive glass to score off the rebound, draw a foul and make it a three-point play.

Breakers big man Mika Vukona became the first player to foul out of the game with 8:28 left in the fourth quarter, and Hudson made the most of it straight away for the Blaze as he took the ball to the ring and finished with a soft touch.

The lead was slashed to four points when Goulding hit a three, and then it became a one point game when Clarke scored from under the rim with the foul for a three-point play.

The Blaze would get their first lead of the game with 6:48 to play when Hoare found himself catching the loose rebound to finger roll the basket from close range.

Clarke pushed the lead to 93-90 on two free-throws for the Blaze, the home team putting together a 14-0 run to put themselves in a winning position.

An ugly offensive possession from the Breakers resulted in a shot-clock violation, and then a questionable unsportsmanlike foul on Penney gifted Hudson one (of two) freebie from the line.

Penney ended the Blaze's 15 straight points with a spin move that got Goulding lost on defence, and dropped the mid-range jumper.

When Abercrombie scored on the next play for the Breakers, the Blaze were holding on to a 95-94 lead.

After Goulding made one free-throw to give the Blaze a two-point buffer, Wilkinson came back and made one free-throw for the Breakers and also fouled out Clark with 3:05 on the clock.

Wilkinson then fouled out on the next play phase after Gibson scored on a three-point play to give the Blaze a 99-95 lead.

The lead became six when Hoare scored again, but Penney then hit another three-pointer to cut the deficit in half.

The Breakers then tied the game up at 101-101 when Bruton got comfortable on a step back three-pointer that found the bottom of the net.

With a chance to win the game on the final play of regulation, Goulding's drive and shot fell short and the game was headed into overtime.

Brasswell put the Breakers ahead in OT with a drive to the basket that finished with a lay-up and score and the lead became four when Penney hit a very long two-pointer.

Gibson for the Blaze and Boucher for the Breakers traded baskets, before Goulding would bring the Blaze within three-points after he made one free-throw.

Gibson then got all the way to rim in transition to cut the deficit to one point with 2:36 on the clock, Breakers 107-106.

Goulding fouled out with 53 seconds to play and sent Bruton to the foul line, where he sunk one from two and gave the Breakers a 108-106 lead.

With 34 seconds on the clock, Boucher fouled out and sent Hoare to the line for the Blaze. Hoare calmly made both free-throws to level the game at 108-108.

The Blaze gathered the rebound on the Breakers next shot, and with an outlet to Gibson the Blaze scored and took the lead on Gibson's floater with seven seconds on the clock.

Following a time-out, the Breakers ran an out of bounds play for Bruton who was double-teamed, his pass found Brasswell who then hit Abercrombie under the basket for a game equalling basket with two seconds on the clock in overtime.

The Blaze's final chance, after a time-out, failed to get a shot and the game was sent into a second overtime.

The scoring opened in the second overtime period when Hudson made one free-throw to put the Blaze up, but Bruton was wide open moments later to land a triple and then Penney hit another amazing three-pointer to push the Blaze up 116-111.

Hudson and Abercrombie traded baskets, before a few tough offensive possessions for both teams netted no score.

With 1:23 on the clock, Penney went to the foul line and made one free-throw to give the Breakers a 119-113 lead.

Brasswell made the lead eight with two freebies with 57 seconds left, Breakers up 121-113.

Harvey made a late basket for the Blaze but the Breakers found Penney alone under the basket at the other end to seal the victory for the top of the table Breakers.

The Breakers triumphant 123-115 in a double-overtime nail biter.

The two teams clash again on Wednesday night across the Tasman in New Zealand.

New Zealand 123 (Penney 35, Wilkinson 21, Bruton 20)
Gold Coast 115 (Harvey 27, Clarke 23, Gibson 19)




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