By: Grant Chapman, Pagemasters

BOXSCORE

A demoralising fourth-quarter stand has propelled the New Zealand Breakers to a 73-59 win over the Adelaide 36ers at Vector Arena.

Trailing by a point into the final straight, the defending champions reeled off an 18-2 run that carried them to their first win of the season.

Cedric Jackson led the way with 17 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and five steals, while centre Alex Pledger made up for his disappointing outing seven days earlier with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Daniel Johnson had 15 points for Adelaide, with Anthony Petrie contributing 13 points.

"That's much better," assessed Breakers coach Andrej Lemanis.

"That's the intensity you need to play with. I think we were disruptive on defence for 35 of the 40 minutes - everyone came in and gave it the attention it deserves.

"To keep that team, which many are saying are the most potent offensive team in the league, to 59 points was obviously a good defensive performance."

Reeling from their 20-point home loss to Perth last week, the hosts were under pressure against a club bolstered by several former Gold Coast players.

The Breakers created momentum through their defence and made some big stops – notably two big blocks from Alex Pledger on Luke Schenscher in the battle of the seven-footers.

Cedric Jackson aggressively attacked the basket and his team would have been further ahead if not for his free-throw woes.

For all their good work, they were only up 21-17 after Hudson put back an offensive board on the buzzer.

A trey from Petrie had the Sixers back on even terms, but a Jackson three and two baskets from Pledger driving the lane restored the Breakers ascendancy.

The big man enjoyed a period of dominance against his markers, sparking his side to a 36-29 halftime lead.

Jason Cadee hit a deep three with the shot clock winding down and the Sixers drew even on a Petrie breakaway lay-up as they made the running after half-time.

Daniel Johnson finally put the visitors up from the free-throw line (45-44) late in the third period and they were on a roll.

But CJ Bruton and Cedric Jackson both connected from the arc in the fourth and then Jackson slotted another trey as part of their unstoppable game-winning run.

Adelaide coach Marty Clarke admitted he feared some kind of kick-back from the Breakers' disappointing season opening."I guess we were prepared for that," he said.

"We knew it would happen. You don't win two championships in a row and go down by 20 points, and not do something about it.

"We did a good job of hanging in there for a long time, but just couldn't absorb the pressure.">>

The Breakers’ 19 offensive rebounds were instrumental in their victory – their advantage in the paint finished at 42-26 and 15-6 in second-chance points.

"We just make some shots," said Lemanis of that fourth-quarter outburst.

"Earlier in the game, we had some opportunities and missed some bunnies, but if you can be relentless on defence and continue to get stops, that also helps stop confidence growing in the other teams."

New Zealand Breakers 73 (Jackson 17, Pledger 15)

Adelaide 36ers 59 (Johnson 15, Petrie 13, Gibson 12)

Crowd: 6625 at Vector Arena, Auckland