Breakers defeat Adelaide to take regular season title
The Breakers rode home on big games from Tom Abercrombie, Gary Wilkinson and Cedric Jackson to clinch the Australian NBL's regular season title in Adelaide tonight.
The Breakers accounted for a spirited 36ers side 91-76 to take their winning streak to four, their league-best record to 19-6 and extend their remarkable run of victories over the 36ers to 11.
And with the Gold Coast Blaze going down 88-76 to the Townsville Crocs in North Queensland the NBL's defending champions have been assured of the minor premiership for the second straight year.
Last year the Breakers posted a club-best record of 22-6, and they still have a shot of matching that record if they win their three remaining games. They host the Blaze on Thursday and then finish with a toad double at Townsville and the Gold Coast.
Abercrombie posted 22 points (8/13 FG), Wilkinson 21 (8/10 FG) and Jackson 17 and seven assists as the New Zealanders shook off a hectic travel schedule to ease away from their hosts over the final two quarters. CJ Bruton weighed in with a handy 12 points as he slipped into his shooting rhythm.
The Breakers had slipped out to a 33-24 lead after a red-hot opening quarter for both sides, but took a slender 47-45 advantage into the major break after the 36ers picked up their defensive effort over the second stanza.
Big Aussie Daniel Johnson was hugely impressive for the home side, finishing the first half with 17 points on six-of-nine shooting. But with Jackson going a perfect five-for-five for 13 first-half points, and Wilkinson (10) and Abercrombie (9) also finding their stroke, the Breakers hinted at the ability to break free at any time.
The Kiwis edged out by nine at the end of the third quarter and when the newly re-signed Daryl Corletto knocked down a couple of fourth-quarter trifectas the game was decided long before the final buzzer.
NZ Breakers 91 (Thomas Abercrombie 22, Gary Wilkinson 22, Cedric Jackson 17, CJ Bruton 12) Adelaide 36ers 76 (Daniel Johnson 21, Diamon Simpson 17, Stephen Weigh 12). 1Q: 33-24; HT 47-45; 3Q: 70-61
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