Basketball: Breakers can't handle Randle in loss to 36ers

Mitch Creek of the Adelaide 36ers blocks a shot by Akil Mitchell of the New Zealand Breakers. Photo / Getty

Adelaide 36ers 102 New Zealand Breakers 92

The New Zealand Breakers' revival has been short-lived, going down 102-92 to the Adelaide 36ers tonight.

The Breakers had earlier this week snapped a four game losing streak with a win over the Brisbane Bullets; a game which indicated they had healed some of their ailments.

Instead, many of the Breakers' issues in their losing streak came back to plague them tonight. Their ball retention was sloppy with 14 turnovers, they shot just 52% at the free-throw line and their defensive performance wouldn't have pleased coach Paul Henare.

The Breakers had no answer for 36ers import Jerome Randle, who lit up the game with his isolation scoring, using his full array of dribble moves to create high percentage floaters and lay-ups.

Randle had 37 points, shooting a remarkable 15/19 from the field as he steered the game away from a close contest into a double-digit victory.

In the big picture, the loss isn't overly significant for the Breakers, such is the parity in the league this season. They now have a 7-9 record, but drastic moves up and down the ladder have proven commonplace.

They can look no further than their victorious opponents tonight. Adelaide were well off the pace just three weeks ago, holding a 3-6 record and having lost four on the trot. Now, after four straight wins, Adelaide sit in second on the table, despite still possessing several weaknesses.

For instance, the contest was a battle between the two statistically worst defensive teams this season. It showed throughout a game which was up-tempo and had both sides gifting easy buckets at times.

The Breakers were good in spurts, no more so at the start of the contest, when they raced out to a 13-3 lead - a lead they would hold through the majority of the first half.

Adelaide coach Joey Wright called the opening quarter the worst his side has played all season, falling into a 28-20 deficit as Corey Webster found his touch.

As shots dropped from the perimiter, Akil Mitchell found the match-ups to his liking inside, bullying his way to three straight buckets.

Just as things started clicking for the Breakers, Randle awoke to turn the game back in the hosts' favour.

Randle began getting past the first line of defence easily, while the return of Mitch Creek was notable as he played a part of Adelaide turning up the pressure on defence, forcing the Breakers into nine first-half turnovers.

The intensity was bubbling, with Adelaide pinged for flopping on multiple ocassions as they jumped into a 49-47 halftime lead.

Randle continued his onslaught after the break, and needing a jolt to stay in the game, the Breakers got it from their veterans, as Kirk Penney and Mika Vukona kept them in the contest offensively.

Penney ended with 25 points as the Breakers shot well from the floor, but their defensive troubles outweighed their offensive showing as the 36ers brought up three figures on their way to victory.

Adelaide 36ers 102 (Randle 37, Johnson 15, Creek 14)
New Zealand Breakers 92 (Penney 25, Vukona 16, Mitchell 13)
Halftime: 49-47