The home team unleashed a 24-3 sequence late in the opening quarter through to the mid-second to take the game by the scruff of the neck. They built the lead to 28 points midway through the third period, more than enough to withstand a spirited comeback from the 36ers in the latter stages.
 
American Gary Wilkinson led all scorers with 21 points for the Breakers, his third straight 20-plus game, ably backed by Kirk Penney’s 19 points. Adelaide were led by centre Daniel Johnson (18) and forward Adam Ballinger (16).
 
Penney scored first with a finger roll to give the home side the early advantage, but they couldn’t take any control of the contest until CJ Bruton and Kevin Braswell hit three-pointers on consecutive trips down the floor, then the Breakers forced a shot-clock violation to trigger a nine-point run.
 
They ended the period with a 28-21 edge, punctuating their effort with a spectacular Braswell-to-Abercrombie alley-oop at the buzzer. American Gary Wilkinson struck first with a fade-away jumper soon after the restart and suddenly the margin was double figures.
 
When Penney hit a trey from the corner on the end of another 15-point outburst, it was 20 points and showtime had started early. The lead was 55-36 at halftime, with Penney, Braswell and centre Alex Pledger all amassing nine points for the Breakers, and forward Adam Ballinger topped that  with 10 for the 36ers.
 
New Zealand were converting a respectable 54 percent from the floor, but had not yet found their range from the arc (3/15, 20 percent). They were also dominating the boards, outrebounding their guests 11-8 at their own end.
 
The Sixers weren’t helped by the three personal fouls called on American guard Ron Howard, limiting him to less than half the first 20 minutes.
 
When they returned, Wilkinson, Tom Abercrombie and then Wilkinson again struck from long range in quick succession, but Adelaide also contributed to their slide with a series of costly turnovers. They did enjoy a purple patch late in the third period when their bench sparked a 12-2 run, but Wilkinson hit again from afar to restore a 20-point margin with 10 minutes left.
 
When Penney again found his target to begin the final stanza, it seemed to put the result beyond any doubt.
 
Adelaide continued to press strongly, outscoring their rivals 22-15 down the stretch and closing to within 14 points at the end, but the hole was just too deep to climb out of.
 
New Zealand improved their record to 13-3, including 6-1 at the NSEC, and next face Cairns Taipans in Cairns on January 30.
 
Adelaide fell to 6-10 – still winless on the road – and host Perth Wildcats on Sunday.
 
New Zealand Breakers 91 (Gary Wilkinson 21, Kirk Penney 19, Kevin Braswell 11)
Adelaide 36ers 77 (Daniel Johnson 18, Adam Ballinger 16)
@ North Shore Events Centre, Auckland