Basketball: Bullets pip Breakers

Breakers US import Akil Mitchell receives an unwelcome push on the back from Bullets counterpart Torrey Craig in Napier tonight. PHOTO/Warren Buckland

The Sky City Breakers lifted their tempo but still went down 79-75 in their second preseason game in Napier tonight.

The Paul Henare-coached New Zealand franchise team put the half-full Pettigrew-Green Arena faithful through myriad emotions with a robust start to the first quarter but the tourists clawed their way back into the game with a tit-for-tat final quarter.

Breakers swingman Thomas Abercrombie topscored for the hosts while US imports Akil Mitchell and Ben Woodside chimed in with 17 and 13, respectively.

Point guard Woodside also claimed four assists.

For the Andrej Lemanis-coached Brisbane, Tom Jervis and Anthony Petrie shared the leading points scorers' honours with 15 each while US import guard Jermaine Beal added 14 to the collective.

The Breakers lost their first game in Tauranga on Tuesday night.

Quarters (Breakers first): 1st 28-24. 2nd 46-41 (18-17). 3rd 62-56 (16-15). 4th (13-23).