Basketball: Stylish win continues Breakers' revival

9.40pm - By PETER JESSUP and NZPA

BREAKERS 98 TIGERS 83

The New Zealand Breakers' revival continued in style tonight with a 98-83 win over the Melbourne Tigers in Auckland.

After winning three of their four just-completed NBL games in Australia, the Breakers returned home to produce one of their most comprehensive performances of their debut season.

The fourth-placed Tigers, who had won the previous two meetings between the teams this season, had no answer against an impressive home side at the North Shore Events Centre.

The Breakers trapped the Tigers' frontline scorers and put up a big defensive effort.

It was a bad night for Tigers coach Lindsay Gaze in his 600th game. His side were never in it.

Tigers' import Lanard Copeland was shut down, missing 11 field goals attempts and failing to score - an incredible defensive effort by the Breakers.

The coach's son, Andrew, was also kept quiet with only seven points until well into the third quarter, by which time the result was not in doubt.

In front of an enthusiastic crowd the Breakers went out to stifle the Tigers' scoring, figuring if they could restrict them to something like the 78 points they scored when the teams met last weekend, they were in with a chance.

Centre Ben Melmeth, in his 200th game, scored 18 points and mustered a smart strategic game.

The Breakers executed well, landing 70 per cent of their shots in the first half.

At the end it was 59 to 41 per cent to the Breakers from the field, with the home side sinking eight of 22 three-point shots and the visitors five of 22.

The Breakers also won the rebounding, 38-30, with turnovers and steals around even.

Paul Henare shows increasing confidence at point guard, especially coming into the attack.

Paora Winitana, too, looks increasingly at home in the NBL.

Dillon Boucher had another good performance, but took a blow to the head towards the end of the first half, having already notched 12 points. He sat out the rest of the game.

The team fly to Australia tomorrow for the weekend's game against the Perth Wildcats and concussion would rule him out.

The Breakers have won four of their last five contests and show every sign of continuing to improve.

Tonight's was a smart win and there are signs of increasing maturity and every reason to expect a good result against the struggling Wildcats.