Basketball: Razorbacks too sharp for Breakers

SYDNEY - The New Zealand Breakers' playoff hopes slipped further away in the Australian NBL last night as they were beaten 82-98 by the West Sydney Razorbacks at the State Sport Centre at Homebush.

Beaten 99-109 by the champion Sydney Kings in the first leg on their road trip on Friday night, the Breakers were again competitive in patches before they slumped to their sixth consecutive defeat, equalling their worst run in the franchise's short history.

American forward Mike Chappell led the Breakers with 24 points, with 19 of his haul coming in the first half.

Chappell practically fought a lone hand in the opening stanzas, keeping the Breakers in the game after the Razorbacks looked ominous early.

From the tip-off they blitzed to a 14-3 lead inside four minutes as errant Breakers' shots were punished on the fast break.

However, the Breakers regrouped and put on an 18-1 run to take the lead 25-22 early in the second quarter.

Australian international guard John Rillie's accuracy from outside the arc propelled the Razorbacks to a 50-42 lead at halftime while another three pointer gave the Razorbacks a 16-point buffer minutes after the break.

Guard Aaron Olson, who was second equal with Phill Jones in the scoring stats with 14, helped narrow the gap to 64-72 entering the stretch but the Razorbacks controlled the final quarter, leading by 23 at one point to comfortably avenge their two-point loss to the Breakers at Penrith last month.

Razorbacks' centre Russell Hinder equalled Chappell's game high of 24 points and was given solid support from Sam Mackinnon (18), Scott McGregor (17) and Rillie (15 plus 12 rebounds).

Languishing in second-last place on the table (with a record of 6-17) but still a chance for the playoffs, the Breakers return to New Zealand for a run of six home games starting with Townsville in Christchurch on Wednesday.

Their doubleheader concludes in Auckland on Saturday.

West Sydney Razorbacks 98 (Russell Hinder 24, Sam Mackinnon 18, Scott McGregor 17, John Rillie 15)

New Zealand Breakers 82 (Mike Chappell 24, Aaron Olson 14, Phill Jones 14)

Halftime 50-42.

- NZPA